Iran is fully prepared to hold joint military drills with China, the chief of staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, Major General Mohammad Baqeri, says.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran is completely ready to expand and deepen defense-military cooperation between the two countries including holding joint military maneuvers,” Baqeri said in a meeting with Chinese Defense Minister General Chang Wanquan in Tehran on Monday.

He hailed China’s constructive role in international equations and called on the country to continue with its part in order to counter the hegemony and aggression of the arrogant world powers.

Pointing to the cordial relations between Tehran and Beijing, the Iranian commander stressed the importance of improving strategic cooperation on regional and international developments.

Baqeri said future cooperation and military moves between the two countries would be based on an agreement signed by Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Hossein Dehqan and his Chinese counterpart in Tehran earlier on the day.

Dehqan and Chang inked the agreement on Monday to boost defense-military cooperation and fight terrorism.

For his part, the Chinese defense minister described the relations between Tehran and Beijing as bright and very promising.

Chang added that his country’s armed forces would attach special significance to completely implementing the defense-military agreement.

Baqeri and Chang also called for more meetings between the two countries’ officials to discuss security and military issues in the region and highlighted the need to counter terrorism as the most important threat to all countries in the world.

They stressed the importance of making collective efforts to reinforce peace and stability and respect the rights of legitimate governments in the region.

In recent years, Iran has made major breakthroughs in its defense sector and attained self-sufficiency in producing important military equipment and systems.

The Islamic Republic has conducted several military drills to enhance the defense capabilities of its armed forces and to test modern military tactics and equipment.

Iran says its military might poses no threat to other countries, stating that its defense doctrine is based on deterrence.