IRGC Major General Gholam Ali Rashid also described Iran as being in an ‘all out confrontation’ at internal and international level in political, cultural, economic, military and propaganda areas.
He said in a speech in Dezful, Khuzestan: “The trend of political, social and economic developments as well as in foreign relations area this year is a determining time, because the nuclear negotiations results with the permission of the Supreme Leader will be clear at the end of this year.”
“The security threat against the system (regime) is on the rise. The threats are on the rise in Lebanon, in Iraq and south eastern of the country. The regional developments are is against the goals of the Islamic Republic”, he said.
Regarding the nuclear negotiations, he said there were three possible scenarios.
He added: “The first scenario is the Hassan Rouhani administration’s scenario, reaching results in negotiations and resolving the Iranian nuclear matter. Officials are optimistic but consider it hard.”
The second possibility would see the talks fail if the ‘enemy’ increased its demands, which west would then blame Iran on its ‘powerful media’, Maj Gen Rashid said.
And the third possibility was for protracted talks, with little part of the sanctions against Iran being lifted while the major part continued, he said.
He said: “Some imagine that there is the possibility of interaction with America and do not consider this an all-out engagement, of which they are seriously mistaken.”
“America has issue with Iran’s Islamic system. Therefore, if the nuclear matter is resolved they will pursue the excuse of human rights and terrorism support instead.”