Speaking at an event in the city of Qom late on Wednesday, Larijani hailed the advanced capacity of Iran’s Armed Forces and stressed that the recent downing of a US spy drone was just part of that progress.
“The downing of the American drone was an experience for them not to violate our borders. But, if they do it, the Armed Forces will give them a stronger reaction,” Larijani said.
On June 20, Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) shot down an advanced US-made RQ-4 Global Hawk over the territorial waters off the coastal province of Hormozgan.
The unmanned US aircraft had been taken down by Iran’s indigenous Khordad 3 air defense system after it breached the country’s airspace on a spying mission despite the IRGC’s numerous warnings.
Tehran wrote to the United Nations in condemnation of the drone intrusion, calling on the world body to confront Washington’s destabilizing actions.
Elsewhere in his remarks, Larijani slammed the US support for terrorist groups, saying Iran was the only country that stood up against Daesh Takfiris.
The enemy, he added, has failed to destroy Iran through economic sanctions and attempts to cut the country's oil export to zero.
Larijani also stressed that the US has offered talks with Iran in a bid to regain the reputation it has lost after its unilateral withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran.