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

President Hassan Rouhani has highlighted 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 region.

“Holding such drills is not a simple task and [that is why] it has infuriated the world's aggressors. They are upset and outraged at the fact that 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.

Neither the US nor the smaller regional states that are submissive towards America could bear to witness those massive 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.

The drills come as the United States has been seeking to set up an international maritime coalition in the Persian Gulf following a series of suspicious attacks on passing takers in the waterway it blamed on Iran.

Navy chief: Iran-Russia-China drill a message to US

Iran’s navy commander has said on the sidelines of a landmark joint drill in the Gulf of Oman that the US must leave the region.

Tehran has firmly rejected the accusations, describing the incidents as false flag operations meant to frame Iran.

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.

Using a recent hike in the price of gasoline as a pretext, foreign-backed riotous elements began staging acts of violence across the country, setting fire to, looting, and vandalizing public facilities, including banks, gas stations, and department stores.

Shortly after the price hike was announced, through, Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei warned that the protests against the decision could be used by agitators, who were being provoked and equipped by the country’s enemies. The note of caution prompted sweeping pro-government rallies across the country.

Rouhani said that Iran was going through the most difficult times since the victory of the 1979 Islamic Revolution, but that 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 progress in expanding the railway network 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 over 14,000 kilometers, he said.

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