Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has compared the resistance of Iranians during the 1980-1988 Iran-Iraq War to today, saying Iran will not give in to the ongoing economic war or actual bombs.
Speaking at a ceremony commemorating the Iran-Iraq War, known in Iran as the Sacred Defence, Rouhani said Iran will make adversaries regret the economic war they wage against Tehran, and will not be demoralised by military action.
"We need resistance, so our enemies know if they bomb our land, and if our children are martyred, wounded or arrested, we will not give up on our goals for the independence of our country and our pride".
The president recalled the capture of the border city of Khorramshahr and the day the city was liberated with some 19,000 Iraqi soldiers surrounded inside, saying today's Iranian youth is ready for new battles like Khorramshahr.
Earlier reports indicated the US military had also transported armoured vehicles to Iraq from Jordan. Despite that, the US president says Washington does not want to go to war with Iran.
Last year Trump re-imposed economic sanctions against Iran lifted by the previous administration. The US unilaterally withdrew from the so-called Iranian deal and designated the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) a foreign terrorist organisation. In response, Iran designated the US Department of Defence's Central Command a terrorist organisation as well.
Iran has repeatedly said it will adhere to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, despite the unilateral US exit from the accord. Tehran has called on the international community and local allies to stop Washington's "hegemonic policies" and resist US-imposed sanctions.
