In a speech on the occasion of the fortieth anniversary of the 1979 revolution, President Rouhani declared that "we have not - and will not - ask for permission from anybody for improving our defensive power". Rouhani also released a statement to those attending commemorative rallies in which he asserted that "months ago, our enemies broke their vow and relied on unjust sanctions against the people, and used all their power... you, with your passionate attendance and intelligence, displayed the dynamics of the revolution to them. You once again ignored the threats and the crisis-making of the imperialism and their regional agents...confirming the national solidarity and authority of the holy Islamic Republic more than before".