“At the current juncture, (the country’s) economic issues have been entangled with cultural, security and defense issues,” Major General Rahim Safavi said in a speech in the central city of Qom on Sunday.
“We are at a historic turn,” he said, adding, “If we pass through it (successfully), we will emerge victorious,” the top general added.
He further described hostilities of some Western governments, including the US, as “endless” and said the “great nation” of Iran continues this path (of resistance) until achieving the final victory.
The remarks came against the backdrop of increased tensions between Iran and the US with Washington imposing new sanctions against the Islamic Republic.
The US has ratcheted up pressure on Iran since last year after withdrawing from the 2015 nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
Since then, the administration of US President Donald Trump is trying to reduce Iran’s oil exports to “zero,” and has sent an aircraft carrier strike group, a bomber squad, an amphibious assault ship, and a Patriot missile battery to the Middle East to try to stack up pressure on Tehran.
Iranian officials, however, have dismissed such moves as psychological warfare, saying the country has its own ways of circumventing the American bans and selling crude oil.