Iran’s defense minister hailed the nuclear accord struck with world powers as a “surrender” by “the superpowers” to “the majesty” of Iran, a watchdog group said. The website of Iran’s leader, meanwhile, published a poster hailing Iran as the region’s “foremost military power.”

Speaking at an armed forces ceremony, Defense Minister Hossein Dehghan declared: “Today, Iran has attained such status that the superpowers have surrendered to it, because of its majesty, its steadfastness, its resistance and its unity.

“Despite their great pride, the regime of the arrogance [the West, led by the US] sat humbly behind the negotiating table and obeyed the rights of the Iranian nation,” Dehghan went on.

Get The Times of Israel's Daily Edition by email and never miss our top stories Free Sign Up

His speech was delivered on Sunday and translated on Friday by the Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI).

On August 24, MEMRI also said the website of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei published a poster, entitled “The Iron Fist,” asserting Iran’s strength in the wake of the nuclear deal. The text on the poster states, according to the MEMRI translation: “Those who leveled sanctions against us yesterday are dying today, because Iran has become the region’s foremost military power. The Islamic Republic of Iran has proven that it works diligently to defend itself. The entire nation unites as a solid fist, standing fast against the aggressors who lack all reason.”

The poster shows a clenched fist adorned with Iranian flags breaking through clouds. The fist itself is made up of military equipment, including missiles, jets, ships and tanks.

US President Barack Obama claims the July deal closes off all Iranian paths to the bomb. Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says it is a historic mistake. Congress is to vote on it later this month.

Iran was reported to be launching war games Saturday involving a range of aircraft, in which the primary focus was on air combat and destroying targets in the air and on the ground.

Israel’s Channel 10 reported Tuesday that Iran has bolstered defenses at its nuclear facilities, introduced new radar systems and “raised its alert” for fear of an Israeli attack. The regime has also being carrying out a series of drills and exercises, including testing anti-aircraft missiles above its Bushehr reactor, the report said.