In a recent TV interview, Iranian Defense Minister Hossein Dehghan said: "I officially declare that under no circumstances will we refrain from providing material and moral support to Hizbullah, or to any group of the resistance to the U.S. and Israel." Dehghan further said that Iran would continue to consider the U.S. to be the "Great Satan" even after the nuclear deal. The interview, held in Farsi, with Arabic voice-over, aired on Mayadeen TV on September 1, 2015.

Following are excerpts:

Interviewer: "Will the U.S. remain "the Great Satan" even after the nuclear agreement, and for how long?"

[...] Hossein Dehghan: "Ayatollah Khomeini called the U.S. the "Great Satan," and there is nothing strange about it. This name was given on the basis of the principles of the holy Quran, which clearly points to Satanic characteristics, conduct, and goals. Since the end of World War II, the U.S. has dedicated itself to a policy of instigating strife, discord, and wars between the world's nations. They have occupied countries and carried out conspiracies all over. They have meddled in the affairs of others, and have toppled independent regimes. All these policies have been solely to serve American interests.

"The U.S. interfered in Iran in the middle of the 20th century, and brought down the democratically elected government of Mosaddegh. It did not hesitate to perpetrate the most abominable crimes against the Vietnamese and Korean peoples, as well as many other countries, because they refused to serve as its lackeys. When the U.S. administrations insist on a policy of arrogance towards others, it is only natural that the Iranian regime continues to view the U.S. as the Great Satan."

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"During the [nuclear] negotiations, they kept changing their positions. Their positions were not resolute, and therefore, we do not trust their positions. They have no credibility and do not keep their promises."

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"I think that today, it is the U.S. that faces isolation. This is because of its unstable positions and its attacks on weak countries."

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"Hizbullah does not need us to supply them with rockets and arms. Israel and the U.S. need to know this. Today, Hamas, the Islamic Jihad, and Hizbullah have the capability of producing their own resources and weapons themselves. Nevertheless, we shall not refrain from supporting them."

[...]

"They received the technology from us and from others, and today, they produce them themselves. I officially declare that under no circumstances will we refrain from providing material and moral support to Hizbullah, or to any group of the resistance to the U.S. and Israel.

"We say this loud and clear. We have declared this officially, and we intend to continue on this path."

[...]