Iran’s Mohsen Rezaei strikes a hardline tone in his first statement, pledging that Tehran will not compromise in the face of threats and must emerge from the current crisis stronger and more powerful.

Rezaei says Iran will strengthen its military deterrence, “resist the bullying of enemies” and respond “promptly and decisively” to any attack, while maintaining readiness to confront future threats.

He also places protecting the Islamic Republic, the Islamic Revolution and its values at the center of Iran’s national security policy.