Iran will defeat Trump just like it did Saddam, won't abandon missiles - Rouhani

FILE PHOTO: Iranian President Hassan Rouhani speaks during a news conference with President Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey and Vladimir Putin of Russia following their meeting in Tehran, Iran September 7, 2018. Kirill Kudryavtsev/Pool via REUTERS

DUBAI (Reuters) - President Donald Trump will fail in his confrontation with Iran, just like Iraq's Saddam Hussein, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said on Saturday, referring to the 1980s war between the two Middle Eastern powers, and vowing that Tehran will not abandon its missiles despite U.S. pressure.

"The same will happen to Trump. America will suffer the same fate as Saddam Hussein," Rouhani said in a speech carried live by state television that marked the start of the 1980-88 Iran-Iraq war.

"Iran will not abandon its defensive weapons ... including its missiles that make America so angry," Rouhani said.

(Reporting by Dubai newsroom; Editing by Tom Hogue)