"The most influential weapon of the Islamic Republic are missiles, and with recent pressure of the enemies, we appreciate our missiles more than ever," Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said, addressing a military parade in Tehran on Saturday to mark the beginning of the week that commemorates Iran's eight-year resistance against Iraq’s 1980-88 invasion.
Iran has never begun a war and did never invade a country and did not even intend to attack any country, he noted, adding that the message of the Islamic Revolution was peace, reconciliation and good neighborliness with countries.
The president also said Iran will not abandon its defensive weapons, including its missiles "that make America so angry."
He stressed that the Islamic Republic of Iran will enhance its defensive power every day, adding “this year, this ceremony was held with more glory and greatness than every other year."
“The reason that the people unitedly sacrificed their lives in Sacred Defense, was that they had no doubt that Iran did not start the war and it was others who invaded our land, our independence and territorial integrity, and we only defended ourselves against aggressors,” added Rouhani.
Rouhani said Iranians will defeat US President Donald Trump like what they did to former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein. "The same will happen to Trump. America will suffer the same fate as Saddam Hussein," Rouhani said.
“During the war, Iraq used chemical weapons against international regulations against the defenceless people of Sardasht, and even its own city, Halabja," he noted.
Rouhani also pointed out that, despite all the war crimes and the acts of aggression by Saddam Hussein, no power and international organisation stood up against him, adding "this is a great lesson for us, the 8-year history of the Sacred Defense is not a past history, but a model for our future and it will stay alive and remain alive forever."
President said “today, the previous war is repeated. That day, it was one of the servants of the United States who was before the Iranian nation and all powers were supporting them, but today it is no longer a proxy war, and the United States is directly before the Iranian nation, and it has begun to violate agreements and withdraw from the deal."
Rouhani emphasised "the Iranian nation disappointed America in the first phase and, as in the early days of the war, the resistance of our warriors disappointed Saddam, this time the people disappointed the enemy again."
“Today, around the world, political, legal and moral victory is for the Iranian nation and we have filed complaints against the US in international organisations and the ICJ and the US is angry about this. We have respected our covenant and international regulations and the Security Council."
He continued “today, the enemy cannot achieve its goals and we won’t let Americans to bring our nation to its knee. Without a doubt, they will create some problems for our people but we are able to overcome this."
Stating that history will judge in the coming month that who is the loser of this political, psychological and economic war that the United States has started, the President said “Iran will not only not abandon its defensive weapons and missiles, but also increase its defensive power every day."
Addressing the enemies of the Iranian nation, the President said “you are saying that we must not be present in our own region, but the question is that what are YOU doing in this region from thousands of kilometres away."
“Of course Iran is a great, effective country in the region and does not stay silent against the innocence and oppression of the peoples of the region,” he continued.
LR/PR