Despite mounting international pressure against Iran’s malicious regional behavior, President Hassan Rouhani declared Monday that his country was determined to develop its military might and ballistic missile program. “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,” he said in a speech at Tehran’s Azadi (Freedom) square to mark the 40th anniversary of the Iranian revolution. He added that Tehran will “beat American sanctions despite the difficulties the people are facing.” He stressed that the American “conspiracy” against Iran will never succeed. Washington imposed sanctions against Iran last year following its withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear deal. Ballistic missile capabilities were on show during the revolution commemoration, including the Qadr F, a ground-to-ground missile with a 1,950 km (1,220 mile) range, according to Tasnim news agency. Yadollah Javani, the Revolutionary Guards’ deputy head for political affairs, said Iran would demolish cities in Israel to the ground if the United States attacked. US National Security Adviser Bolton, who in 2017 expressed hope Iran’s “revolution will not reach its 40th birthday”, tweeted that after four decades it “has failed to fulfil its promises to uphold and safeguard the rights of its citizens.”