This article is from the source 'independent' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/iran-president-hassan-rouhani-missile-capabilities-donald-trump-un-general-assembly-a7960466.html
The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Iran president Rouhani says country will increase missile capabilities after 'ignorant' Trump speech | Iran president Rouhani says country will increase missile capabilities after 'ignorant' Trump speech |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Iran has unveiled a powerful new missile, as the country's president, Hassan Rouhani, promised to boost their weapons capabilities. | Iran has unveiled a powerful new missile, as the country's president, Hassan Rouhani, promised to boost their weapons capabilities. |
| Mr Rouhani said the country would not be seeking permission from anyone to "defend" itself, despite threats from US President Donald Trump. | Mr Rouhani said the country would not be seeking permission from anyone to "defend" itself, despite threats from US President Donald Trump. |
| Soon after the defiant remarks, the head of Iran's Revolutionary Guards aerospace division, Amirali Hajizadeh, told Tasnim news agency the force has a new ballistic missile, capable of carrying several warheads up to 1,200 miles (2,000km). | |
| The moves come just days after an inflammatory speech by Mr Trump at the United Nations, in which he verbally attacked Iran and suggested he would end the 2015 nuclear deal with the country. | The moves come just days after an inflammatory speech by Mr Trump at the United Nations, in which he verbally attacked Iran and suggested he would end the 2015 nuclear deal with the country. |
| Speaking at a parade commemorating the country's bloody war with Iraq, Mr Rouhani said: "We will increase our military power as a deterrent. | Speaking at a parade commemorating the country's bloody war with Iraq, Mr Rouhani said: "We will increase our military power as a deterrent. |
| "We will strengthen our missile capabilities ... We will not seek permission from anyone to defend our country." | "We will strengthen our missile capabilities ... We will not seek permission from anyone to defend our country." |
| Mr Rouhani also said Tehran would keep supporting the "oppressed people of Yemen, Syria and Palestine", a reference to Iran's role in wars in Yemen and Syria and support for Palestinian militant groups such as Hamas. | Mr Rouhani also said Tehran would keep supporting the "oppressed people of Yemen, Syria and Palestine", a reference to Iran's role in wars in Yemen and Syria and support for Palestinian militant groups such as Hamas. |
| During his debut UN speech, Mr Trump called Iran a "murderous regime" and aqccused it of stoking violence in the countries referenced by Mr Rouhani. | |
| Mr Trump also said the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran was an "embarrassment" and accused the country of building "dangerous" missiles. | |
| The agreement, in which Iran agreed to limit its nuclear programme in return for the lifting of economic sanctions, was hailed as a major step forward in diplomatic relations between the two countries. | The agreement, in which Iran agreed to limit its nuclear programme in return for the lifting of economic sanctions, was hailed as a major step forward in diplomatic relations between the two countries. |
| But Mr Trump has long derided the deal, and frequently cited it during his election campaign as an example of how American power was being lost. | But Mr Trump has long derided the deal, and frequently cited it during his election campaign as an example of how American power was being lost. |
| Mr Rouhani has maintained it cannot be renegotiated. | Mr Rouhani has maintained it cannot be renegotiated. |
| He branded Mr Trump a "rogue newcomer" to international relations and said his approach to the deal was "ignorant and absurd". | He branded Mr Trump a "rogue newcomer" to international relations and said his approach to the deal was "ignorant and absurd". |
| Tensions have been increasing between the US and Iran since Mr Trump took power, though much of his focus has so far been on North Korea. | Tensions have been increasing between the US and Iran since Mr Trump took power, though much of his focus has so far been on North Korea. |
| But analysts fear his rhetoric on Iran has “reinforced the impression that he plans to take action to undermine the [nuclear] deal”. | But analysts fear his rhetoric on Iran has “reinforced the impression that he plans to take action to undermine the [nuclear] deal”. |
| Additional reporting by agencies. | Additional reporting by agencies. |