TEHRAN, July 24 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Armed Forces are highly prepared to give response to any threat at any level against the Islamic republic, Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Mohammad Baqeri vowed on Tuesday.
The Iranian nation has maintained its unity over the past four decades in dealing with the enemies, particularly the "criminal United States" and the Zionist regime of Israel, Baqeri was quoted as saying by Press TV.
The Iranians have succeeded in thwarting all the enemy's plots and achieved a decisive victory against them, he said.
Following U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to quit the historic Iran nuclear pact on May 8, the U.S. vowed to re-impose sanctions lifted under the accord against Iran and punish countries that have business links with the Islamic country.
The U.S. has also demanded all countries stop oil imports from Iran starting from Nov. 4, in an attempt to suffocate its economy. In response, Iran has threatened to block the Hormuz Strait, the main transporting route for oil exports of the Gulf countries.
Iran has never waged a war against any country and wants peace and stability in the region, Baqeri said, adding that the Islamic republic has maintained cordial relations with its neighboring states and helped to promote regional peace.
"As the dominant power in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, (Iran) has always been the guarantor of the security of shipping and the global economy in this vital waterway and has the power to take actions against any scheme in this region," Baqeri said.
Baqeri's remarks came amid a war of words between the leaders of the U.S. and Iran.
Trump on Sunday warned Iran in a tweet against threatening the U.S. again, or will "suffer consequences the likes of which few throughout history have ever suffered before."
Trump's capitalized tweet came after Iranian President Hassan Rouhani warned Washington not to "play with the lion's tail" because a war with Iran will be "the mother of all wars."
