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While most of the world was watching nuclear talks between Iran and the US on Monday in Geneva, the Islamic Republic’s military was pursuing a far different campaign.

The head of Iran’s armed forces, General Hassan Firouzabadi (pictured), explained to reporters on Monday that the Islamic State, which has taken territory across Iraq and Syria and carried out attacks elsewhere, was founded by Israel with help from Washington and London.

“The phenomenon of the ISIL is a terroristic move that has been created against our neighbors in Iraq, Syria, and other Muslim countries by Zionism, Britain and the US,” he said.

Deputy Chief of Staff, General Mostafa Izadi, echoed in a speech in western Iran, “The moves by the Islamic State to strengthen the Zionist regime shows the nature of the Takfiri [deviant Muslim] current.”

Izadi declared that the main goal of the Islamic State and the “Takfiri current” is to “taint the image of “genuine Islam to prevent its progress in the hearts of Europeans”.

The military’s statements come as Iran is under increasing economic pressure and stress in the region, especially over the four-year Syrian crisis.

Iran is trying to cope with the plea of the Assad regime for an extension of a $3.6 billion line of credit, due to expire soon. It has increased military assistance, both in equipment and manpower, but has lost commanders and fighters among an Israeli airstrikes, rebel attacks, and failed regime offensives.

Kerry: Those Criticizing Nuclear Talks Don’t Know Details

Challenging those who have criticized nuclear talks with Iran, US Secretary of State John Kerry has said that they do not know the details of the discussions.

Kerry told a Congressional committee on Tuesday:

Anybody running around right now jumping in to say, ‘Well, we don’t like the deal,’ or this or that, doesn’t know what the deal is. There is no deal yet, and I caution people to wait and see what these negotiations produce.

The Secretary of State said that he intends to brief Saudi Arabia’s new king, Salman bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud, and foreign ministers from the Gulf State next week in London.

Kerry’s remarks are being interpreted by Israeli media as a response to Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is scheduled to address the US Congress on March 3.

Netanyahu said last week:

Unfortunately, the information that I have received over the last few days confirms many of our fears about the developing agreement between the powers and Iran.

This agreement, if signed, will allow Iran to become a nuclear threshold state. Meaning, with the powers’ consent, Iran will get a license to develop bombs – and this is a country which openly declares its intention to destroy the state of Israel.

Supreme Leader’s Office Invokes “Malcom X” to Bash Israel and US Over “Blacks”

The Supreme Leader’s office invokes Malcolm X — albeit with a struggle over how to spell his name — to criticize the US and Israel over treatment of “blacks” and Palestinians: