TEHRAN - Army Deputy Commander Ahmad Reza Pourdastan said on Wednesday that the U.S. seeks to prevent Muslims’ empowerment by creating terrorist groups such as Daesh.

Imposition of sanctions and cultural invasion are other ways being used to weaken the world of Islam, the high-ranking general noted.

He also called for countering any move aimed at dividing the countries in the Middle East region, an indirect reference to the planned independence referendum in the Iraqi Kurdistan.

NA/PA