„Iran should act wisely by forging a regional coalition which would involve Russia and Syria as well as Pakistan and Iraq to stand against the U.S.-led coalition,“ Maj. Gen. Yahya Rahim Safavi said on Tuesday.

Years of fighting against terrorist groups backed by the U.S. and some of its regional allies were costly for Syria and Iraq, Safavi said.

„This is what the United States, Saudis and Israel wanted,“ he added.