Adversaries Investing to Create Discord, Instability

Hostile powers are seeking to foment unrest in the country by exerting economic pressure on the people, but their efforts to undermine security will prove futile, says a senior military official.  “The Americans, the Israelis and the House of Saud have been spending large amounts to undermine security in our country,” Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps Major General Mohammad Ali Jafari said in remarks published by ISNA on Monday. They had been hoping to spread insecurity over the past several month,s but security prevails across the country as the nation was vigilant and did not provide enemies the opportunity to advance their nefarious agenda, he added.  “The enemy is getting weaker everyday although it is presenting a totally different image of itself [to conceal] its weakness through its media power,” Jafari said, noting that ill-wishers have failed to achieve their goals and carry out their plots against Iran since the revolution in 1979.  Sworn enemies of Iran have been doing all they can to sow discord and frustration among the people and topple the Islamic establishment, the IRGC commander said.  According to American sources, the administration of US President Donald Trump has launched a new campaign of speeches and online communications to foment unrest in Iran.   The drive—which is supported by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and national security adviser John Bolton—has intensified since Washington withdrew on May 8 from the 2015 nuclear deal between Tehran and world powers, several current and former US officials told Reuters last week.