Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Amir Hatami says that the enemies sought to carve out an Iraq and Syria out of Iran but they failed thanks to the vigilance of its officials and people.

“Through the efforts of the leaders (managers), armed forces and the people, Iran is enjoying a high level of security,” Brigadier General Amir Hatami said in a ceremony in Lorestan Province on Monday.

With regard to the impact of foreign sanctions on the country’s economy, the defense minister said that the enemies are seeking to put maximum pressure on the country through the sanctions.

Iran has huge human resources and scientific potentials that can curb the effects of the sanctions on the country, he asserted.

He also said that the foreign sanctions have made the country even stronger as it is relaying on its internal resources.  

The Iranian defense minister further pointed out that the enemies also sought to divide the country through terrorist groups and separate the people from their government through the sanctions but thanks to the Leader of the Islamic Revolution and the people’s help, their conspiracies have failed.

“Our enemies have different plots against the countries of the region, for example in the issue of Iraqi Kurdistan, while the people and authorities of Kurdistan were keen to live within the framework of the official borders of Iraq, they intended to create problems [for Iraq,] by deceiving some people” Bregadier General Hatami noted, adding "through the vigilance of the people of the Kurdistan region of Iraq, and in particular the officials of Turkey, Iraq and Iran, the plot could be thwarted.”

He said that the enemies have not given up plotting as they have long-term plots for the countries of the region.

Elsewhere in his remarks, he said that his Ministry is planning to further equip the armed forces to tackle the threats.