President Rouhani: Iran-Russia-China drills angered US, vassal states in region

President Hassan Rouhani highlights the significance of the recent naval drills jointly held by Iran, Russia and China in the Indian Ocean and the Sea of Oman, stressing that the unprecedented military maneuvers infuriated the US and its vassal states in the state.

“Holding such drills is not a simple issue and has made the predatory world [countries] very angry. They are upset and outraged at the fact the two major powers (Russia and China) have staged joint maneuvers along with the naval forces of Iran’s Army and the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC),” said Rouhani on Tuesday, Press TV reported.

Neither the US nor the smaller regional states that feel “humility in front of America” could tolerate the drills, he added.

The three-day drills, which were held last week, covered 17,000 square kilometers consisting of various tactical exercises, such as target practice and rescuing ships from assaults and fires.

Elsewhere in his remarks, Rouhani hailed pro-establishment rallies in condemnation of last month’s riots in the country, saying the enemies were irked by those demonstrations.

Rouhani said that Iran was going through the most difficult times since the victory of the 1979 Islamic Revolution, but it continues to move forward.

The president, however, urged Iranians to stand their ground in the face of pressure from abroad and remain optimistic, further warning against painting a gloomy picture of the country’s economic future.

Rouhani, who was speaking at the opening ceremony of a new train line linking the Golshahr district of Karaj in Alborz to Hashtgerd, praised Iran’s progresses in developing railway lines over the past years.

He said that the country’s railway line has seen a 45-percent growth since six years ago when his administration took office.

Iran’s total railway line, which was some 9,600 kilometers for over 90 years, has currently reached to over 14,000 kilometers, he said.

SS