Iranian Army Commander Major General Amir Hatami declared Iran “unconquerable” at a ceremony on April 17 welcoming home the crew of the IRIS Dena destroyer, which was sunk by a US submarine south of Galle in early April.
Hatami warned that any US ground invasion attempt would leave “no enemy soldier alive on Iranian soil” and cautioned that “any miscalculation by Washington or Tel Aviv would be met with overwhelming resistance.”
The commander referenced the killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, saying it had strengthened national resolve rather than weakened it. He said millions of Iranians had demonstrated in solidarity and that senior commanders had issued preparedness instructions against a potential ground invasion.
The 32 rescued Dena crew members were among 240 Iranian sailors — including personnel from the interned IRIS Bushehr — who departed Sri Lanka on April 14 via a Turkish Airlines charter flight.
The defiant rhetoric comes as ceasefire negotiations between Washington and Tehran continue, with President Trump signalling a possible weekend meeting. Iran’s military posture suggests Tehran is maintaining a public show of strength even as diplomatic channels remain open.
