Addressing a large group of Basij volunteer forces in a massive drill in Tehran, General Salami said, “The United States is the number one enemy of the Iranian Muslim nation and the Islamic world” whether or not a nuclear deal whose text was finalized by Iran and world powers in July will be signed.

He further denounced the US war rhetoric against Iran, saying that Americans know that all their interests are within the range of Iran’s fire.

“Our enemies are well aware of our capabilities and defensive and offensive capacities, but still talk about the availability of military option,” he added.

General Salami went on to say that the Iranian nation’s resistance and power forced the enemy to resort to diplomacy, which led to the nuclear negotiations with Tehran.

Iran and the Group 5+1 (Russia, China, US, Britain, France, and Germany) on July 14 reached a conclusion on a lasting nuclear agreement that would terminate all sanctions imposed on Tehran over its nuclear energy program after coming into force.

The 159-page deal has its own opponents and proponents both in Iran and the other countries that are parties to the JCPOA, including the US.

While the United Nations Security Council has adopted a resolution to endorse the deal, the text of the document needs to be reviewed by both Iran and the US Congress; Tasnim News Agency reported.