TEHRAN (Dispatches) -- A senior IRGC commander says Iran’s vast military power has forced adversaries to set aside military options against the Islamic Republic and resort to economic tools to push the country to accept their demands.
"The enemies have found that the Iranian nation will never surrender and they need to talk with our people with respect,” IRGC deputy commander Brigadier General Hussein Salami said.
The top general said the real problem of Iran’s adversaries is the country’s defense power and economic threats are part of their strategy to undermine the Islamic Republic’s military might.
Salami said the adversaries have launched a psychological operation to create anxiety among the Iranian people over the country’s economic situation and force the Iranian government to go to the negotiating table.
"Today, Iran’s military power has strengthened and the enemies seek to have negotiations to limit this power,” he said, adding that the Iranian nation’s "deep insight” will foil all hostile plots.
On Monday, Washington re-imposed a round of sanctions against Iran that went into effect early Tuesday.
The U.S. administration hopes the move would further damage the Iranian economy and force Tehran to give concessions on the country’s regional and defense policies.