President Rouhani: Iran to Build, Purchase More Arms, Military Equipment

“At present, all (countries) are threatening each other and the Americans are flagrantly threatening Russia with new atomic weapons,” President Rouhani said, speaking in a video conference in Tehran on Sunday.

His remarks came after Moscow condemned US military proposals to develop new, smaller atomic bombs under the pretext of deterring any Russian use of nuclear weapons.

Russia’s foreign minister called the move “confrontational”, and expressed “deep disappointment”.

“Can a nation in such conditions say that now is the time for peace, brotherhood and coexistence and say that they don’t want defense power,” he asked.

President Rouhani underscored that Iran needs defense power as long as there are threats against it, adding, “We should strengthen our defense power against any new threat.”

“Thanks God, we build most of our weapons and war equipment and if we need to buy them, they will certainly be purchased,” he said.

His remarks came after Commander of Khatam ol-Anbia Air Defense Base Brigadier General Farzad Esmayeeli warned that the country’s Armed Forces are prepared to respond to any enemy threats and aggression with an iron fist.

“We have no compromise with the enemies and we have learned it from our martyrs,” Brigadier General Esmayeeli said on Friday.

“We have to protect our cultural positions because the enemies are after creating crevice in them,” the commander added.

Also, in November, Lieutenant Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Brigadier General Hossein Salami underlined that the country’s Armed Forces are fully prepared to defend the country, and said that if enemy dares to attack the Islamic Republic, it will face Tehran’s rigid reaction.

“As the regional upheavals unfolded, the enemy suffered defeat against our zealous youth, and it will experience the same in case of trying to make an aggression against the country,” Brigadier General Salami said.

He underlined that the enemy was after thwarting Iran’s progress through supporting and strengthening terrorist groups by presenting a distorted and detestable image of Islam to the world.

“The enemy will face nothing, but defeat in return for hostility towards the Islamic Republic of Iran,” Brigadier General Salami added.