Middle East

Iranian president: Iran isn't seeking war against any nation

Associated Press
Published | Updated

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani speaks during a session of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, Friday, June 14, 2019. The Shanghai Cooperation Organization is a security alliance that brings together Russia, China, India, Pakistan along with ex-Soviet Central Asia nations of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. (AP Photo/Vladimir Voronin)

FILE - In this Jan. 13, 2015 file photo, released by the Iranian President's Office, President Hassan Rouhani visits the Bushehr nuclear power plant just outside of Bushehr, Iran. On Monday, June 17, 2019, Iran said it will break the uranium stockpile limit set by Tehran's nuclear deal with world powers in the next 10 days. (AP Photo/Iranian Presidency Office, Mohammad Berno, File)

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani says his country is not seeking to wage war against any nation while at the same time stressing that it will withstand mounting U.S. pressure and emerge victorious.

Rouhani's remarks on Tuesday came as Tehran and Washington are edging toward a flashpoint after Tehran announced it was breaking compliance with the nuclear deal with world powers and the Trump administration ordered 1,000 more troops to the Middle East.

Rouhani says the "entire Iranian nation is unanimous in confronting" U.S. pressures and that "the end of this battle will see victory of the Iranian nation."

The escalation follows apparent attacks last week on two oil tankers near the Strait of Hormuz, assaults that Washington has blamed on Iran. Tehran has denied being involved in the attacks.