"The armed forces must be prepared to protect the Islamic republic," Brigadier General Gholam Reza Jafari was quoted as saying.

The Revolutionary Guards Corps "has committed itself to organisational transformations, considering the changes in the nature of threats against Iran," he said.

"So far the battalions have been reinforced, while the necessity to act fast and pay attention to military tactics have been taken into consideration," added the commander of the Revolutionary Guards' ground forces.

The commander did not elaborate on the structural changes in the Corps, founded after the 1979 revolution to protect the Islamic regime against both internal and external threats and now one of Iran's most powerful entities.

"During the past 25 years America has carried out several plots to destabilise the Islamic Republic. The only thing they have not done is military attack, which it would not dare to given the people's support of the regime," he said.

The commander said the US-led invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan -- both neighbours of Iran -- were merely a part of Washington's campaign against Tehran, which he boasted had "messed up America's plans in the Persian Gulf region".

The Revolutionary Guards, or Sepah-e Pasdaran, exist in parallel to the regular armed forces. They also have their own naval and air forces, and are largely deployed to protect Iran's borders.

WAR.WIRE