A military parade was held near the mausoleum of Imam Khomeini, the founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran, in the south of the metro Tehran area on Monday to commemorate the beginning of Iran’s Sacred Defense Week.
Various units of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps, Iran’s Armed Forces, and the Islamic Republic of Iran Police participated in the military parade.
President Hassan Rouhani and high-ranking military officials attended the ceremony, in which the country’s latest defense achievements were put on display.
The domestically manufactured Sadeq 1 unmanned aerial vehicle and the Fath 2 Radar System were the pieces of military hardware which were unveiled for the first time.
In Iran, the 1980-1988 Iran-Iraq war is known as the Sacred Defense, and Sacred Defense Week is held on the anniversary of the beginning of the war.
Sacred Defense Week begins on Shahrivar 31 in the Iranian calendar (September 22), which is the day Iraq invaded Iran and began the imposed war on the country in 1980.
Iran a Peace-Seeking Nation
President Rouhani delivered the opening speech of the ceremony, in which he said Iran is a “peace-seeking” nation and is not seeking to wage war against any country because it does not intend to achieve its objectives in this way, the Fars new agency reported.
He said the region is afflicted with turbulence and insecurity, adding Iran has been able to help promote stability in the region.
The Iranian government and armed forces will cooperate to deal with the issues of terrorism facing the region, adding the Iranian nation will stand up to terrorists and “put them in their place.”
Commenting the recent developments in Iraq, Syria, Gaza, and Afghanistan, he said, “We are happy that the nations have been able to maintain their unity and cohesion in the face of plots.”
Elsewhere, he said the government will make every effort to support and boost the armed forces.
In addition, Rouhani pointed to the government’s efforts over the past year and said the government has been able to control inflation and recession and taken measures to bring economic prosperity to the country.
