‘Whether you like it or not, we are going to strengthen our military capabilities,’ President Rouhani
Tehran: Iran has unveiled a new ballistic missile on Friday, with a range of 2,000 km (1,200 miles), capable of carrying several warheads.
The ballistic missile, named Khorramshahr, is capable of reaching much of the Middle East, including Israel.
The unveiling by Iran’s Revolutionary Guard came during a military parade in Tehran today. The parade marks the first day of the annual Sacred Defense Week which commemorates the 1980s Iran-Iraq war. The parade had Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and senior military officials in attendance.
The move comes as the country’s president stepped up the pressure on the US by defending its right to strengthen military defenses.
In a speech broadcasted on state television, Rouhani said: “We will promote our defensive and military power as much as we deem necessary. We seek no one’s permission to defend our land.”
He added that Iran’s defense power has never been used for aggressive acts, while certain world powers export deadly weapons to the Middle East, according to a report published in Tehran-based PressTV.
“The great nation of Iran has always pursued peace and security in the region and the world, and has always defended the oppressed people of the world. We will defend the downtrodden people of Yemen, Syria, and Palestine whether you like it or not,” he added.
“All countries in the world supported the nuclear deal in the United Nations General Assembly this year … except the United States and the Zionist regime (Israel),” Rouhani said.
The move is a direct challenge to President Donald Trump, who signed a bill imposing mandatory penalties on those involved in Iran’s ballistic missile programme and anyone who does business with them.
Earlier, French President Emmanuel Macron had said that it was important to start a “monitoring process on the ballistic activity of Iran” adding that it was “a concern for the whole region.”
PressTV‘s video of Iran’s military parade: