Iran's Rohani says military power not affected by nuclear deal

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Irans Rohani says military power not affected by nuclear deal
Iranian President Hasan Rohani.

Dubai - Iranian President says the country's military might was a precondition for peace, after being criticised by hardline factions.

By AP


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Published: Sat 29 Aug 2015, 6:34 PM

Last updated: Sat 29 Aug 2015, 8:38 PM

Iran's military capability has not been affected by its nuclear deal last month with six world powers, President Hasan Rohani said on Saturday, moving to reassure hardliners that the deal was no sign of Iranian weakness.
"With regards to our defensive capability, we did not and will not accept any limitations," Rohani said at a press conference carried on live television.
"We will do whatever we need to do to defend our country, whether with missiles or other methods."
Last week, Iran unveiled a new surface-to-surface missile it said could strike targets with pinpoint accuracy within a range of 500km, a move likely to worry Tehran's regional rivals.
Rohani said at the ceremony that Iran's military might was a precondition for peace, after being criticised by hardline factions in Iran's multi-tiered leadership for negotiating with Western powers they see as fundamentally hostile to the Islamic Republic.
Under the July 14 pact, Iran agreed to strict limitations on its nuclear programme to ensure it cannot be turned to developing atomic bombs, in exchange for a removal of international sanctions imposed on Tehran. Iran denies ever seeking bomb capability from its nuclear programme.
According to the deal, any transfer to Iran of ballistic missile technology during the next eight years will be subject to the approval of the UN Security Council, and the United States has promised to veto any such requests.
An arms embargo on conventional weapons also stays, preventing their import into and export out of Iran for five years.


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