Iran To Give Crushing Response To Aggressions: Commander

Tehran, Sept 1, IRNA – Iran will give crushing response to any foreign air aggression, Deputy Commander of the Iranian Army Brigadier General Abdolrahim Mousavi said on Monday. He made the remarks in a ceremony held to celebrate the anniversary of Khatam ol-Anbia Air Defense Base. Iran is equiped with strategic radars that monitor all enemy movements beyond the countryˈs borders and invaders will pay a high cost for possible aggression, he added. The commander hailed the Khatam ol-Anbia Air Defense Base capabilities that made Iranˈs airspace safe for the internal and international flights. All international organizational including the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) have approved safety of Iranˈs airspace, he added. Following the crisis in eastern Ukraine and the ICAOˈs request to use Iranˈs airspace instead, Tehran declared readiness to admit passing flights which intend to change their routes and use the countryˈs space. A Malaysia Airlines’ Boeing-777 with over 290 people on board crashed in Ukraine, close to the border with Russia last month. Ukraine government and the pro-Russian groups that are fighting Kiev’s forces in Eastern Ukraine blame each other for the downing of the Malaysian plane./end