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Majlis Speaker hails defense power of Iranian armed forces

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Tehran, March 27, IRNA -- Majlis (Parliament) speaker Ali Larijani on Wednesday praised defense power of Iranian armed forces saying that western and regional powers are well aware of preparedness of Iranian defense power and that they enjoy support from the nation.

He made the remarks in his address to navy commanders.

Larijani said that Iraqi-imposed war on Iran (1980-1988) inflicted heavy costs on the country, but led to training powerful military forces.

He pointed to the country's achievements in the area of missile technology and said that despite western media hype Iran is bolstering defense power and is on the right track.

Unfortunately there are unfair and colonialist classifications in the world according to which advanced technologies should only be in the hands of certain countries and they prefer other countries to be mere consumers of their outputs, he said, adding that such classifications should fade away.

On Iran's nuclear negotiations with the western governments, he said what they announce in the media is completely different from what they say in the negotiations.

Larijani said that in negotiations they say 'we know that you do not seek nuclear weapons but you are changing the balance of power in the region.'

They wanted Iran to be a neutral country in the region, like others who possess huge reserves of oil and gas, but, Iran has turned into a powerful and independent country with powerful armed forces, he noted.

Larijani said that in addition to acquiring advanced technologies, the Islamic Republic of Iran has established religious democracy, threw weight behind Palestinians and democracy-seeking movements in the region.

Iran has acted successfully, so that when the US attacked Iraq and Afghanistan, the Iranian nation stood by Iraqi and Afghan nations, he said in reference to humanitarian assistance to influx of refugees from Iraq and Afghanistan.

On threats by western governments to attack Iran, he said that 'we do not take these threats seriously, but, if they make such a mistake Iran's response would be crushing.'

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Islamic Republic News Agency/IRNA NewsCode: 1078987