Hamidreza Hajibabayi, deputy speaker of parliament, said at a ceremony in Nehbandan County: “What has happened during the years since the Revolution is a confrontation by the arrogant powers against the will of the Iranian people, and America does not want the Iranian people to have a good life and does not want— not only in Iran, but anywhere in the world— for there to be first-class citizens.”

Hajibabayi continued: “The Americans have reached the conclusion that if there is no confrontation with Iran, Iran may become a superpower and make a leap.”

He added: “No one in Iran is looking for war, but if the enemy attacks us, we will not give them any mercy and we will pursue the enemy to the other side of the world until the very last moment.”