Iran's mixed messages - Rouhani talks peace, while military flexes muscles

In a rally near Tehran on Tuesday, Rouhani spoke of pursuing “the path of peace” and “constructive interaction with the world.”

By JPOST.COM STAFF
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani (photo credit: HO / IRANIAN PRESIDENCY WEBSITE / AFP)
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani
(photo credit: HO / IRANIAN PRESIDENCY WEBSITE / AFP)
The Iranian regime is sending mixed signals these days. While its president, Hassan Rouhani, speaks of moderation, its military, led by the high command of the Revolutionary Guards, continues with its saber-rattling.
In a rally near Tehran on Tuesday, Rouhani spoke of pursuing “the path of peace” and “constructive interaction with the world.”
“The absolute majority of the Iranian nation supports the path of peace, reconciliation and the course of constructive interaction with the world,” Rouhani said.
The president called for “unity, unanimity and harmony inside [the country] and resistance against enemy plots to create insecurity in the region.”
While Rouhani spoke of harmony and understanding, the head of Iran’s navy was singing a different tune - touting plans to build a fleet of speedboats that will bolster the Islamic Republic’s maritime force.
"Based on the fifth five-year (development) plan, we should materialize our objective of mass-producing military speedboats with the speed of 80 knots per hour,” Navy Rear Admiral Ali Fadavi told an assembled crowd in Tehran. “This is a formidable speed in the world's navies."
"Therefore, we should try to mass-produce speedboats that can traverse at the speed of 80 knots (per hour) and are equipped with missiles with a range of 100km; the vessels no one can catch," he added.