The country is facing an extraordinarily critical and difficult set of circumstances and needs greater security and defence than it did before, Major General Yahya Rahim Safavi said.
Safavi said that the IRGC was actively working to transform the Islamic Republic into the number one power in the region within the next 20 years.
He added that the Middle Easts vast oil supplies brought with it economic and political strength.
As a military commander I believe that the worlds energy security is dependent on the Middle East and Iran, he said.