President Hassan Rouhani declared that Iran would produce or purchase any weapons it needed to defend itself in a region beset by what the Iranian leader dubbed “invading powers”. “We tell the world that we will produce or acquire any weapons we need and will not wait for their approval. We do not seek their view on this – we never have, and we never will do. We tell our neighboring countries that our intention towards them is that of a good neighbor. We want to have good neighborly relations with you,” Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani said.
President Rouhani, who address an event marking the Islamic Republic’s National Army Day, also took the opportunity to condemn the United States, Britain and France for attacking its ally, Syria; asserting that their presence in the region was illegal. “We are not living in a normal region, and we see invading powers have built bases around us. They (the invading powers) maintain an illegal presence. Disregarding the principles of international law, they intervene in regional affairs and invade other countries without U.N. permission and in violation of accepted international norms,” Rohani Said.