TEHRAN – Chairman of the Chief of Staff of Iran’s Armed Forces Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi said Tuesday the country will not allow terrorists to prevail and will keep defending its independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity.

In a message issued a day after massive nationwide rallies, Mousavi lauded the Iranian people for their heroic presence and unity in the face of the recent foreign-incited rioting in a number of cities.

Stating that the U.S. and Israel orchestrated the unrest by infiltrating “ISIS terrorists” into Iran, to compensate for their historic defeat in their 12-day imposed war, he said these mercenaries, “worse than wild animals,” deliberately martyred civilians and security personnel.

“Enemies should know that Iran’s security forces would not allow terrorists or criminal elements to dominate the field,” he warned.

Reaffirming Iran’s resolve and steadfastness on security, the Chief of Staff of Armed Forces said the Islamic Republic would never retreat from defending its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

He also expressed his condolences to the families of the martyrs of the recent unrest who lost their lives defending the country.