Iran to continue expanding military

Dubai: Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said on Monday that Iran was determined to expand its military power and ballistic missile programme despite mounting pressure from hostile countries to curb Iran’s defensive work, state TV reported. “We have not asked and will not ask for permission to develop different types of ... missiles and will continue our path and our military power,” Rouhani said at Tehran’s Azadi square, where thousands gathered to mark the 40th anniversary of Iran’s Islamic revolution. He also vowed Iran would defeat U.S. sanctions, reimposed after President Trump withdrew from Tehran’s nuclear accord with world powers last year.