Iran warns of ‘harsh response’ if enemies retest its power

Head of the Aerospace Division of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) has warned the enemies against any acts of aggression, saying they will face a “harsh response” if they retest Iran’s power.

Brigadier General Amir-Ali Hajizadeh made the remarks on Saturday after Israel and Western countries accused Tehran of a suspected attack on an Israeli-managed tanker off the coast of Oman and threatened a response.

“The Islamic Republic has passed the test and does not need to be re-tested, but if they like, they can retest Iran,” he said.

"They have tested us and they know what response they will face. We have both the power and the will to exercise power. We will certainly deliver a harsh response and they cannot make such a mistake.”

According to reports, the Liberian-flagged Mercer Street, operated by Israeli-owned Zodiac Maritime Company, was hit near the Omani island of Masirah late on July 29. Two crew members were killed in the incident.

The Tel Aviv regime and its Western allies alleged that Iran had been behind the attack without presenting any shred of evidence to substantiate their claims.

Tehran denied any involvement in the incident and categorically dismissed the baseless accusations.

US, UK join Israel in accusing Iran of tanker attack, give green signal for ‘response’

Iran has vehemently denied any hand in Thursday’s attack on an Israeli tanker off the coast of Oman, dismissing allegations leveled by Tel Aviv and its American and British allies.

'Enemies forging documents against Iran'

Also on Saturday, Brigadier General Abolfazl Shekarchi, spokesman of the Iranian Armed Forces, said that unlike Iran, whose strategy is to strengthen security in the Persian Gulf, the United States, Britain and Israel are trying to create insecurity while the Saudi media are intensifying Iranophobia.

“If we want to confront the enemies, we will not let the battlefield be around us. The enemies started the media war at the time of the inauguration of the president of our country, and today they are seeking to forge documents for their actions,” he added.

The commander also noted that the United States has never pursued interaction, but sought to overthrow the Iranian administration.

“If we opt to confront the enemies, we will announce it openly; Like what we did in Ain al-Asad base. Therefore, the enemies' recent forging of stories against Iran is in line with a psychological operation, and this is due to their fear of the unity of the Islamic establishment.”

On January 8, 2020, the IRGC targeted the US-run Ain al-Asad in Iraq’s western province of Anbar after launching a wave of attacks to retaliate the assassination of top Iranian anti-terror commander General Qassem Soleimani.

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