Rouhani: We Will Respond Positively to Requests for Defense of Islamic Capitals

During the unveiling of part of the S-300 missile defense system equipment at the Army Day ceremony of the Islamic Republic, Hassan Rouhani, the President of Iran, referred to Iran's 'defense' of Baghdad and Damascus, stating that if other Muslim countries request assistance to defend their capitals against 'terrorism or Zionism', Iran will respond positively. According to Fars News Agency, Hassan Rouhani made this statement on Sunday, April 29, during the military parade of the armed forces. He stated, 'I hereby declare clearly, just as I did a few days ago in the presence of the leaders of Islamic countries, that the power of the Islamic Republic of Iran and our military, political, and economic power is not against our neighbors and the countries of the Islamic world; we consider the power of Islamic countries as our own power and our power as the power of Islamic countries.' Rouhani continued, 'I said there that when Baghdad was in danger from terrorists, it was the Islamic Republic of Iran that responded positively to the call of the Iraqi people, government, and army, defending the gates of Baghdad and the holy shrines. When Damascus was in danger, it was the Islamic Republic of Iran and our fighters who responded positively to the call of the Syrian people and government, defending the holy shrines by sending advisors from the capital of this country.' The Iranian President emphasized, 'I also said there that if tomorrow your capitals are threatened by terrorism or Zionism, the power that will respond positively to you, if you request help, is the Islamic Republic of Iran.' Hassan Rouhani also added, 'Those who say we do not need hard power are naive, and those who say we do not need soft power have a short-sighted view.' Rouhani's remarks about Iran's 'defense' of other Islamic capitals come at a time when many Muslim countries have protested against Iran's 'intervention' in the affairs of Syria, Iraq, and other Arab countries, leading to tensions in their relations with Iran. In this context, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation also issued a statement on Friday, April 27, severely criticizing Iran, accusing the Islamic Republic of 'continuing to support terrorism' and interfering in the internal affairs of regional countries, including Syria and Yemen. Parts of the S-300 air defense system were unveiled for the first time during the Army Day parade in Tehran. Fars News Agency reported images of the unveiling of some equipment from the long-range S-300 missile system during the parade on April 29. However, the news agency noted that 'the missiles of this system were not present at the parade, and only parts of this system, including radar, command posts, and communications, were displayed.' Hossein Jaberi Ansari, the spokesperson for the Iranian Foreign Ministry, recently announced that the first phase of the S-300 contract has been implemented. The S-300 missile system is a long-range surface-to-air missile system capable of being used at all altitudes. This missile was initially designed to intercept aircraft and cruise missiles, and later its ability to intercept ballistic missiles was added. The contract for the purchase of the S-300 system was signed between Tehran and Moscow in late 2007, and Russia was to deliver five batteries of this missile system worth about $800 million to Iran. Opposition from Israel and the United States to the sale of this system to Iran led Dmitry Medvedev, the then President of Russia, to issue a decree in September 2010 titled 'Measures Related to the Implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1929', banning the delivery of this system to Iran. After negotiations between the Islamic Republic and world powers over Iran's nuclear file, Vladimir Putin, the President of Russia, issued an order last year to lift the ban on the delivery of the S-300 missile system to Iran. Rouhani's comments about the military's dependence on parties or factions were made during his remarks on Army Day, stating that individuals serving in the army or other armed forces should not be 'affiliated' with any party or faction, and that diplomats and the armed forces of the Islamic Republic pursue a 'common goal'. He referred to a statement by Ruhollah Khomeini, the founder of the Islamic Republic, that 'the army belongs to the entire Iranian nation', adding, 'A person either stays in the army or belongs to a party or group; there is no third option. If one wants to be affiliated with a party or faction, they should not be in the army, and if they are in the army, they should not be affiliated with any party or faction.' He continued that 'this statement applies to all armed forces, and the Imam spoke clearly about the other armed forces in the same manner.' His remarks may refer to the activities of the Revolutionary Guards, which are accused of intervening in elections and making political-factional decisions under the pretext of defending 'the principles and values of the revolution.'