The comments by Maj. Gen. Amir Hatami come as Iran tries to respond to what it sees as a dual threat posed by Israel and the United States, as well as the protests sparked by its economic woes that have grown into a direct challenge to its theocracy.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian declared on Saturday that Tehran is effectively locked in a ‘full-fledged war' with the United States, Israel and European powers, accusing them of trying to bring down his government through sustained political, economic and military pressure.