RNA - James Mattis on Monday described Iran "the most destabilizing influence in the Middle East”, saying a regime change would be necessary before the US and Iran could have substantially positive relations.
On Thursday, Deputy Chief of Staff of Iran's Armed Forces Brigadier General Massoud Jazayeri said the Islamic Republic was not perturbed by the remarks.
"The ridiculous dreams of the Americans about the overthrow of the Islamic Republic of Iran is nothing more than disturbed delusions and we are not worried that they have preoccupied themselves in such a way," he said.
"We will respond to the nonsensical talks of the American authorities in the theaters of action," Jazayeri added without elaboration.
Addressing a high school journalism student in Mercer Island, a Seattle suburb, Mattis claimed that Iran was not really a democratic country and acted more like a “revolutionary movement” than a functional state.
Jazayeri said, "The Islamic Republic of Iran, in the framework of its defined goals and policies, will constantly continue to expel foreigners from the region and will not have the least doubt in covering this sacred path."
Earlier this week, Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Hossein Dehqan likened the Pentagon chief's claims to delirious comments by an ill person.
Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qassemi also said while Mattis had repeatedly accused Iran of supporting terrorism, “the US establishment and its current defense secretary, himself, are the symbols of terrorism and violation of human rights.”
In his remarks on Thursday, Jazayeri also touched on new US sanctions on Iran, saying the Islamic Republic has worked out plans which could damage the US in a big way.
Last month, US Senate voted for a bill to impose new sanctions on Iran over its ballistic missile program, alleged support for terrorism and human rights violations. The bill would become law if passed in the House of Representatives and signed by US President Donald Trump.
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