The chief of the Iranian army defended the deal struck between the West and the Islamic Republic regarding Iran’s nuclear program on Saturday, according to state news agency IRNA.

“The Armed Forces have the most concerns about the impacts of the deal on Iran’s defense capabilities and they are concerned about the US officials’ misinterpretations from the post-nuclear deal sanctions,” Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Major General Hassan Firouzabadi stated, as quoted by Fars.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran has never had and will never pursue the unconventional weapons use strategy, including use of the nuclear weapons.”

Firouzabadi, who is a close friend of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, also named 16 “advantages” to the deal; these points have not yet been translated into English.

The move, analysts say, may be a bid to convince Islamists to agree to implementing the deal’s terms.

Iran’s parliament and the Supreme National Security Council, are both to make a final decision on the agreement in the coming days, according to the Associated Press.