Iran Never Allows Its Territory to Be Violated: Spokesman
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Seyed Abbas Mousavi praised a recent move by the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) to shoot down an advanced US spy drone and said the Islamic Republic would never allow its territorial integrity to be violated.
Speaking to the Tasnim News Agency, Mousavi pointed to US President Donald Trump’s stance on the downing of the US drone and said, “Regardless of any decision they (US officials) make, we will not allow the Islamic Republic’s territory to be violated.”
“We are ready to counter any threats against the (territorial) integrity of the Islamic Republic of Iran,” he added.
“Our decisions do not hinge on their decisions and we will counter any aggression whether it mingles with threats or not,” the spokesman stated.
The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) said on Thursday that a US spy drone that violated the Iranian territorial airspace in the early hours of the day was shot down by the IRGC Aerospace Force’s air defense unit near the Kooh-e-Mobarak region in the southern province of Hormozgan.
The intruding drone was reportedly shot by Iran’s homegrown air defense missile system “Khordad-3rd”.
In comments made a few hours after the incident, IRGC Commander Major General Hossein Salami said the shooting down of the US aircraft had a straightforward message that any foreign intrusion into Iran’s sovereign territories would draw a crushing response.
“The downing of the US drone had an explicit, decisive and clear message that defenders of the Islamic Iran’s borders will show decisive and knockout reactions to aggression against this territory by any alien,” he said.
“Borders are our redline, and any enemy violating these borders will not go back,” the commander underlined.
He also made it clear that Iran is not seeking war with any country but is fully prepared for any confrontation. “Today’s incident was a clear sign of such a precise message.”
The general also reminded the enemies that the only way for them to remain safe is to respect Iran’s territorial integrity, national security and vital interests.