NOURNEWS - Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said Tehran is closely monitoring the US roguish moves in the Persian Gulf, stressing that Iran’s relevant bodies are fully aware of the pretentious moves of the US in Iraq and the entire region.
“The mischievous acts of the US are not hidden from our eyes,” Khatibzadeh said at a press conference on Monday, adding, “Our intelligence, security and military organizations are fully aware of the ostensibly underhand movements of the US in the region and in Iraq.”
He said Iran has sent clear messages to Washington and regional states over the provocative moves.
“The regional countries have been told not to fall prey to these mischievous acts,” he said.
The spokesman stressed that the neighboring countries know well how the US’ unilateralism and its defiance of international laws has harmed the regional nations.
“The US would bear responsibility for the consequences of any adventure,” he warned, adding, “If any action is taken, we will respond clearly and without a single moment of hesitation.”
On Sunday, acting US Defense Secretary Christopher Miller instructed the USS Nimitz to remain in place due to what he described as “purported Iranian threats against President Trump and other US government officials,” reversing an earlier decision to move the carrier out of West Asia.
Miller said, “No one should doubt the resolve of the United States of America.”
On Wednesday, the US flew two nuclear-capable B-52 bombers over the Persian Gulf in a show of “force” that Pentagon authorities said was aimed at “warning Iran” against conducting retaliatory attacks.
It was the third time in six weeks that American bombers conducted long-range flights off the Iranian coast.
Earlier in December, two B-52 bombers flew over the Persian Gulf on a short-notice mission. Aircraft from Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Qatar flew with the US jets during portions of the flight, a senior US military official told NBC News.
In a relevant reaction last month, a senior Iranian commander warned the US that the smallest possible violation of the country’s airspace will receive a “fiery response” after Washington sent its B-52H bombers on an overflight mission above the Persian Gulf.
Lieutenant Commander of Khatam al-Anbia Air Defense Base Brigadier General Qader Rahimzadeh, delivered the caution on Saturday December 12.
“Iran’s airspace is among our redlines and, as enemies have already experienced, the smallest violation will face the [Iranian] air defense forces’ crushing and fiery response,” Rahimzadeh said.
“Iran’s surveillance operations cover the entire range of movements that are carried out by the regional and extra-regional forces, including the bombers that were sent to fly more than 150 kilometers (93 miles) away from the country’s borders,” he noted.
The commander reminded that given the country's strategic position and the hostile moves that have been trying to target the Islamic establishment, Iran's integrated air defense constantly monitors the movements of manned and unmanned aircraft around the country.
“The air defense analyzes these movements, and devises and implements proportional plans after learning about the enemies’ targets and behavior,” Rahimzadeh said.
He said some regional countries were interested in enlisting the cooperation of other countries from the region and beyond to supposedly ensure their own security.
“This had led to some aerial maneuvering by certain regional countries outside Iran’s flight information region (FIR) over the Persian Gulf last week,” the commander went on to say.
NOURNEWS