18/04/2007 Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Wednesday that the Islamic republic's army enjoyed a defensive nature not an offensive one. Ahmadinejad made his remarks in a ceremony to mark Army Day. "The nation seeks peace and security all over the world and wants to have relations with all nations and states except for the Zionist regime," Ahmadinejad said.
"Holding friendly relations with the region's countries is among the main policies of the nation." He said that the Army was completely ready to fulfill its missions, adding that "the army will resist against any aggressor and will cut off its hands." "Bullying powers imagined that by imposing sanctions they can weaken our army, but the army's creative engineers, directors and specialists could provide all of their needs every field and equip this divine force by modern weapons," the President said. "Today our dear army is self-sufficient and provides for all of its needs. The strength of the army is in service of peace, brotherhood and security in the region," he added.