Iran says it will respond firmly to any U.S. threat as tension spikes

Source: Reuters



JUNE 22, 2019 / 3:06 AM / UPDATED AN HOUR AGO

Parisa Hafezi, Lisa Barrington
5 MIN READ

DUBAI (Reuters) - Iran said on Saturday it would respond firmly to any U.S. threat against it, the semi-official Tasnim news agency reported, amid escalating tension between Tehran and Washington over the shooting down of an unmanned U.S. drone by the Islamic Republic.

On Thursday, an Iranian missile destroyed a U.S. Global Hawk surveillance drone. Tehran said the drone was shot down over its territory and Washington said it had occurred in international airspace.

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday he aborted a military strike to retaliate for Iran’s downing of the U.S. drone because it could have killed 150 people, and signaled he was open to talks with Tehran.

“Regardless of any decision they (U.S. officials) make... we will not allow any of Iran’s borders to be violated. Iran will firmly confront any aggression or threat by America,” foreign ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi told Tasnim.

Read more: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-iran-usa-threat/iran-says-it-will-respond-firmly-to-any-u-s-threat-as-tension-spikes-idUSKCN1TN054?il=0