DUBAI: Any conflict in the Gulf region may spread uncontrollably, a senior Iranian military commander was cited as saying on Sunday, by the semi-official news agency Fars.
“If a conflict breaks out in the region, no country would be able to manage its scope and timing,” Major General Gholamali Rashid said, according to Fars. “The American government must act responsibly to protect the lives of American troops by avoiding misconduct in the region.”
Earlier, Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi said Iran will respond firmly to any US threat against it, the semi-official Tasnim news agency reported on Saturday.
“We will not allow any violation against Iran’s borders. Iran will firmly confront any aggression or threat by America,” he told Tasnim.
Tension between Tehran and Washington has spiked since Thursday when an Iranian missile destroyed a US Global Hawk surveillance drone. Tehran said the drone was shot down over its territory and Washington said it occurred in international airspace. US President Donald Trump said on Friday he aborted a military strike to retaliate for Iran’s downing of the unmanned US drone because it could have killed 150 people, and signaled he was open to talks with Tehran.
“Regardless of any decision they (US officials) make, we will not allow the Islamic Republic’s territory to be violated,” Mousavi said.
