President Raisi Says Iran Will Not Start War, But Will Respond Firmly To Enforcement

JAKARTA - President Ebrahim Raisi on Friday stressed that Iran would not start a war, but would respond firmly to anyone who tried to oppress him.

He conveyed that a day after the United States said it was planning to carry out attacks on Iranian sites in Iraq and Syria.

"We will not start any war, but if anyone wants to oppress us, they will receive a strong response," President Raisi said in a televised address.

"Previously, when they (US) wanted to talk to us, they said the military option was on the table. Now they say they have no intention of conflicting with Iran," President Raisi continued.

There has been growing speculation this week about how Washington might retaliate, after three US troops were killed last Saturday in an attack on their base in Jordan by an Iran-backed group.

CBS News, citing US officials, reported on Thursday that the US had approved plans for a few days of attacks on Iraq and Syria against various targets, including Iranian personnel and facilities in those countries.

"The military force of the Islamic Republic in this region is not and has never been a threat to any country. On the other hand, this guarantees reliable and trusted security by countries in the region," President Raisi explained.

The United States considers the drones that killed three of its troops and also injured more than 40 others, Iranian-made, four US officials told Reuters.

It is known that the death of US troops in Jordan was the first to be carried out by Iranian-backed groups against US troops in the region, since the Hamas-Israeli conflict broke out in Gaza last October 7.