During a speech at a ceremony marking the National Army Day on Friday, Rouhani said that Iran’s Armed Forces are seen as the anchor of stability in the region.

“[Our] neighbors should know that the [Iranian] Army and other [units of the] Armed Forces are the custodians of stability in the entire region,” he said.

He said that Iran’s Armed Forces are fully ready to defend the country against any threat.

“We... have declared and continue to assert to the world that we do not seek aggression; we do not seek wars. We favor logic and dialogue. We will not invade any country but will firmly counter any act of aggression,” Rouhani said.

He said that Iran’s Armed Forces proved to the enemy both during and after the eight-year Iraqi-imposed war against the Islamic Republic that they will not allow malicious plots by big powers against Iran.

Units from Iran’s Armed Forces are holding parades across the country to mark the occasion of the National Army Day. The day marks the establishment of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s Army.

In recent years, Iran has made great achievements in its defense sector and attained self-sufficiency in producing essential military equipment and systems.

Iran has repeatedly said that its military might poses no threat to other countries, reiterating that its defense doctrine is based on deterrence.

NJF/NJF