In the first response after the second package of US sanctions on Iran came into force on Monday, Iranian President Hassan Rowhani said Tehran would sell oil and break sanctions.
"America wanted to reduce Iranian oil sales to zero, but we will continue to sell our oil ... and break the sanctions," Rowhani said in a speech broadcast on Iranian state television.
"We are in a state of war, we are facing an economic war, we are facing an authoritarian enemy, we must stand firm and win," said Rowhani, speaking to a group of economists.
The second package of US sanctions on Iran entered into force on Monday, specifically aimed at the energy sector, after Washington withdrew from the international nuclear agreement with Iran in May.
In May, US President Donald Trump withdrew from a nuclear deal signed by world powers with Iran in 2015 and re-imposed a first package of sanctions against Tehran in August.
Day of Penalties maneuvers
The US president described the new package as the largest in US history, noting that Tehran is no longer in good shape.
The European Union, France, the United Kingdom and Germany, which signed the nuclear deal with Iran, which aims to prevent Tehran from acquiring a nuclear weapon, have expressed their regret over the recent US decision.
Iran welcomed the activation of re-imposition of US sanctions with air defense maneuvers, and state television broadcast footage of air defense systems and anti-aircraft batteries involved in the two-day exercises.
General Habibullah Sayari, an army commander, said the Iranian National Army and Guards were involved in the exercises, and that the munitions used were produced by Iran.
