"The era of hit and run is over in the world and any hostile measure against our country will be responded to by Tehran tenfold. We are capable of protecting ourselves in every field," Admiral Ali Shamkhani, the secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security, said on Monday, according to Tasnim News Agency.
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The statement echoes recent proclamations by Iranian top officials, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who confirmed that Tehran intends to boost its military power.
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 March. 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.
