Rouhani Describes Iran's Military Power Increase as a Sign of Tehran's 'Peace-Seeking'

Hassan Rouhani emphasized that Iran's increase in military power signifies 'peace-seeking' and attributed the lack of U.S. attacks on Iran to the 'high costs' such actions would entail for the U.S. According to Fars News Agency, the Iranian President stated on Tuesday, August 30, during a meeting with military commanders that 'not being prepared for defense means welcoming war, and if Iran's military power is not deterrent, it means we have allowed others to attack the country.' He stressed, 'Our preparedness is not for war, but for creating and maintaining lasting peace; increasing defensive power means peace-seeking.' Rouhani's comments come despite his previous criticisms of some actions by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), including missile tests, which he accused of undermining the Vienna nuclear agreement during the second presidential debate last year. Regarding the reasons for the U.S. not attacking Iran, he said that U.S. officials know 'what the consequences of such an action would be and what costs it would entail.' He also regarded the U.S. House of Representatives' resolution to delegate the authority to attack Iran to Congress as a 'sign of Iran's capability and power,' indicating that 'it has made them understand that if anyone wants to invade Iran, they will have to pay a heavy price.' On June 3, the U.S. House of Representatives passed an amendment to the 2019 defense budget stating that the U.S. government cannot take military action against Iran without congressional approval. Mike Pompeo, the U.S. Secretary of State, had stated that the Trump administration's pressure is not aimed at regime change in Iran. Despite escalating verbal conflicts between Iranian and U.S. officials, several Iranian officials have dismissed the likelihood of military confrontation. In this context, Heshmatollah Falahatpisheh, head of the National Security and Foreign Policy Commission of Parliament, stated on July 27 that despite the heightened verbal clashes between Iran and the U.S., the two countries 'have no desire for war with each other.' According to this parliament member, due to the 'closure of diplomatic channels,' both sides communicate through speeches, 'where the only thing absent is diplomatic considerations.' On the same day, Mohammad Ali Jafari, commander of the IRGC, emphasized that the U.S. military threat is 'not very serious,' stating that 'internal weaknesses and threats are more serious.' In recent months, threats from Iranian officials regarding closing regional straits and IRGC naval maneuvers have provoked reactions from Israel and the U.S. The U.S. and its allies in the region have repeatedly criticized Iran's regional policies, particularly in support of Bashar al-Assad's government in Syria and the Houthis in Yemen, accusing Tehran of financing and arming terrorist organizations. Iran denies these allegations. On Tuesday, a warplane named 'Kowsar' was unveiled in the presence of Hassan Rouhani. According to Iranian news agencies, this aircraft is 'the first domestically produced advanced fighter jet equipped with indigenous avionics and advanced fire control systems of the fourth generation.' This is the second time in recent years that Iran has unveiled a 'fighter jet.' In 2012, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the then-President, and Ahmad Vahidi, the then-Minister of Defense, unveiled an aircraft named 'Qaher 313' or 'F-313,' but experts stated that what was unveiled was a 'mock-up' and expressed doubts about its capabilities.