Inauguration of major projects in Iran ‘very painful’ for enemies: Rouhani

TEHRAN, Feb. 18 (MNA) – Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said that it is ‘very painful’ for enemies to see that Iran has managed to inaugurate major national projects despite harshest sanctions. He made the remarks Monday in a ceremony held to launch the third phase of Persian Gulf Star Refinery in Bandar Abbas, Hormozgan province. “It is very painful for enemies to see that we are inaugurating three major and great national projects in one province during 24 hours despite sanctions against the Iranian nation which they [enemies] claim to be the harshest of its kind.” Rouhani was referring to two refinery projects in Bandar Abbas which were inaugurated today and also to the joining of Fateh submarine to Navy’s fleet on Sunday. “The Americans, Zionists and our enemies began their measures [against Iran] from last January, thinking that till January of this year everything would be over and that the Islamic Republic would not be able to celebrate its 40th anniversary,” he added. “They said they were implementing the toughest sanctions, but people’s lives and Iran’s development continue,” he said, adding that these projects show that that our nation is moving rapidly towards self-sufficiency and greatness. “Despite plots and sanctions, we were able to produce high-quality petrol to the amount we needed,” the official website of Iranian presidency quoted him as saying. “During the war with Iraq, our refineries were bombarded every day but our oil sales never stopped … the entire world was helping Saddam, but we stood firm.” Stating that, “an economic war is harder than a military war,” he continued, “we are not in normal conditions; but the enemy will definitely be forced to retreat from the economic war waged against us." “Trump’s standing alone on Iran," said Rouhani, adding "chairing the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) was a historic scandal for him and a great victory for us." He also went on to stress that, “the US is showing animosity against people’s wellbeing and lives.” At the end of his speech, Rouhani, on behalf of the Iranian nation, appreciated the engineers and staff of the oil industry and the IRGC.