Striking a moderate tone toward the West, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said at a military parade that his country seeks dialogue instead of war.
Rouhani, speaking April 18 in Tehran, said talks between Iran and world powers on the Islamic Republic’s nuclear program proved his country’s peaceful intentions.
“During the talks, we announced to the world and we say so again … we are not after war, we are after logic, we are after talks,” Rouhani was quoted as saying by the Associated Press. He added that Iran “will not invade any country,” although it would “resist any invasion.”
According to Reuters, some soldiers marching in the parade carried banners reading “death to Israel” and “death to the United States.”
Iran and six world powers — the United States, Russia, China, France, Britain and Germany — reached an interim deal in November 2013 that put limits on Tehran’s enrichment levels in exchange for an easing of some sanctions. Israel called the arrangement “a bad deal.” — jta