Era of Hit and Run Over: Shamkhani

A senior Iranian security official said Tehran will respond to any hostile action against the country and said the era of “hit and run” was over, the semi-official Tasnim news agency reported on Monday.

“The era of hit and run is over in the world and any hostile measure against our country will be responded to by Tehran 10-fold. We are capable to protect ourselves in every field,” Tasnim quoted Ali Shamkhani, the Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security council as saying.

The statement echoes recent proclamations by Iranian top officials, who repeatedly confirm that Tehran intends to boost its military power.

On Sunday, Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution in Iran, Imam Sayyed Ali Khamenei stated that the power of Iranian forces should be increased in order to “scare off the enemy.”

The remarks come amid deteriorating relations between Iran and the US. Tensions have been escalating since Washington announced its withdrawal from the Iranian nuclear deal, in May.

On August, 6 the US re-imposed punitive measures against Tehran, restricting Iran’s trade in gold and precious metals, sales of aluminum, steel, coal and certain types of software, also banning the purchase of US dollars by the Iranian government as well as the purchase of Iran’s sovereign debt and Iranian rials.