Iran's missiles for deterring attacks, not waging war: Pezeshkian
3 Min Read
Iran's president says that Tehran has created defensive missiles so that parties such as the Israeli regime would be unable to strike the Islamic Republic.
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Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian speaks during a visit to the shrine of the Islamic Republic's founder Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini in Tehran, Iran, on July 6, 2024. (AFP)
Iran's missiles are intended to dissuade anyone intending to strike the country, not to wage hostilities against other states, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said.
During a ceremony on Monday, the president said, "We have [our] missiles [at our disposal] so they would not dare attack us. Our missiles are not meant [to be used] for carrying out attacks against anyone or [contributing to] expansionism.”
Pezeshkian praised Palestinians in Gaza for their "esteem and greatness" which has prevented the Israeli occupation from compelling them to surrender, despite bombarding the Strip for over a year, ruthlessly and relentlessly.
He slammed the Israeli occupation for claiming to uphold human rights and international law while its leaders commit "violence, genocide, crime, and murder behind their neat and tie-wearing appearances."
The mismatch between "Israel's" allegations and deeds demonstrates the regime's "indecency and lack of identity," he asserted.
Pezeshkian criticized those accusing Iran of failing to respect human rights, claiming that the parties making the accusations are the same ones who have used chemical weapons to carry out lethal attacks on the Iranian people, including women and children, and have targeted the people's sources of sustenance through sanctions.
Iran slams US deployment of B-52 bombers as 'destabilizing'
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei criticized the United States on Monday, describing its presence in the region as "destabilizing" following its deployment of B-52 bombers in the Middle East.
At a news conference, Baghaei responded to questions about the military buildup, stating, "We have always believed that the presence of America in the region is a destabilizing presence," adding, however, that this "will not deter (Iran's) resolve to defend itself."
The US military announced on Saturday the deployment of B-52 bombers to the Middle East as a warning to Iran, which has pledged to respond to the Israeli aggression that targeted several of its military sites on October 26.
The Pentagon stated that these deployments would occur in the coming months and highlighted the "flexibility of the US military movements around the world."
"Should Iran, its partners, or its proxies choose to target American personnel or interests in the region during this time, the United States will take every measure necessary to defend our people," Pentagon spokesperson Air Force Major General Patrick Ryder said in a statement.
Four Iranian soldiers were martyred during the latest assault on Iran, and officials reported limited damage to several radar systems.
Baghaei said that Iran's retaliation would be "definite and decisive." He also reaffirmed that Iran supports "all initiatives and efforts" to promote a ceasefire in Gaza and Lebanon, where "Israel" persists with its aggression.
