Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said that Iran had to develop its military forces to prevent other states taking over its territory and resources.
"We should make ourselves ready to fight against the military powers who want to take over our territory and our resources," Rouhani said in a speech broadcast live on state television on National Defence Industry Day.
He said Iran's military prowess was what deterred Washington from attacking it, adding that under President Donald Trump the United States was becoming isolated even from its own allies.
"Why does the United States not attack us? Because of our power, because it knows the consequences," Reuters cited Rouhani as saying.
