Iran’s defence readiness not warmongering, but peace-seeking: Rouhani
President Rouhani described Iran’s defence readiness not meaning warmongering, but seeking sustainable peace and said: “Lack of defensive power means a green light to enemies and we are all responsible to protect Iranian nation’s security, power and dignity with the lowest price possible”.
Speaking at the ceremony of Defence Industry Day on Tuesday morning, President Hassan Rouhani said, “We are the people of peace and cooperation”, adding: “Discipline, training, faith and readiness of the armed forces must be at a level that enemies would not dare to commit any act of aggression”.
“Holding of Defence Industry Day in August of every year is very important because everybody can see the one-year achievements of the researchers in the defence industry,” added the President.
He also said: “History tells us that if we are not powerful and don’t follow our goals firmly, there are other than will defeat us”.
Stating that one cannot make sure that all human beings walk in the right path, Dr Rouhani added: “In addition to being in a critical geographical region, the Islamic Republic of Iran has been subject to Iranophobia during the past 40 years”.
He also said that in the past 40 years, Iran has proved that it is not seeking to exercise any act of aggression against any country, adding: “In critical points, Iran chose to help its neighbouring countries instead of invading them. For example, we have hosted many Iraqi and Kuwaiti refugees during Saddam Hussein’s invasion of Kuwait”.
“The Iranians have always sought to have peaceful coexistence and interaction with other countries. In the recent years that terrorism had spread through the region, although it was not apparently a threat to Iran, but the Islamic Republic of Iran voluntarily rushed to help the people of the region and had an effective role in clearing the countries of the region of terrorists”.
Emphasising that Iran must reinforce its defence powers to defend the country from those who look at this land’s resources and geographical position with greedy eyes, the President added: “Our readiness is not readiness for war, but readiness for creating and protecting sustainable peace”.
“When we say the Iranian nation is ready to bravely defend itself, it means that it wants to protect sustainable peace. Lack of sufficient readiness and capability means welcoming war, but increasing defence power means seeking peace,” he continued.
Rouhani also said: “All we are trying to do; all we are spending on our country’s defence power is to prevent any war and costly acts of aggression imposed on our country”.
“Today, some countries near us are apparently trying to protect their security. They are doing this in a very costly way, they are buying weapons with the highest prices possible and yet they cannot use them efficiently. So to used them, they have to hire foreign counsellors,” he continued.