Iran’s Defence Minister and top general, Hossein Dehqan, has slammed remarks by the US Secretary of Defence James Mattis on “regime change” in Iran, saying his comments are akin to those who are mentally challenged, Mehr News Agency reported on July 11.

Dehqan's comments come as the Trump administration in the United States recently entertained two exiled Iranian opposition groups, including royalists supporting the family of the ousted Shah and Islamic-Marxists under the guise of Mujahedeen el-Khalk.

Dehqan said James Mattis' statements are similar to the words made by the sick during fits of delirium.

In response to the ‘blatant’ and ‘meddlesome’ comments by Mattis on July 10, Dehqan said the US should fix its own problems before getting into another Middle East quagmire.

“Instead of making decisions for other countries, James Mattis and other US officials had better resolve their domestic problems. They’d better examine the underlying causes that will likely overthrow the incumbent US government. These issues will pose a challenge to the country’s political system as well,” General Dehqan added.

“The arrogant and bullying nature [of Washington], have caused people like Mattis to lose rationality," and he added: "Such statements are similar to those made by a sick person."

Mattis said that any potential rapprochement would be difficult because Iran is not really a democracy.