Iranwire – Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi has said that the Islamic Republic would not start a war in the region but would “respond firmly” to anyone who tried to bully it.
Raisi made the comments on February 2 after days of speculation about how the United States might retaliate after three US soldiers were killed in a strike in Jordan by an Iranian-backed group.
“We have said many times that we will not be the initiator of any war, but if a country, a cruel force, wants to bully, the Islamic Republic of Iran will respond firmly,” Raisi said during a trip to the southern province of Hormozgan.
“Today, the enemy has no ability to do anything against us because they know that our forces are powerful and capable,” he also said.
The death of the American soldiers in a drone strike at a base in Jordan on January 28 marked the first US military losses to hostile fire in the region since the Israel-Hamas war broke out on October 7.
The United States has blamed “radical Iran-backed militant groups” for the attack and warned that “multiple actions” could be taken in retaliation.
CBS News, citing US officials, reported on February 1 that the United States had approved plans for multi-day strikes in Iraq and Syria against multiple targets, including Iranian personnel and facilities in those countries.
Tehran has denied any links to the attack.