Iranian air radar systems detected and monitored the flight of American F-35 fighter jets in the Gulf to the south of Iran, the deputy commander of operations of the Army Air Defense, Brigadier General Reza Khajeh, announced.
Reports said the US and Iran are trying to ease tensions and revive nuclear deal talks.
The United States boosted its military presence in the Gulf waters in the face of Iran's growing threats to ships and oil tankers.
Recently, 3,000 American soldiers crossed the Red Sea towards the US bases in the Gulf when the US-led joint international forces warned commercial ships and tankers of approaching Iranian waters.
F-35 and F-16 aircraft flew over the Strait of Hormuz this week as part of the ongoing operations to guard commercial ships in the region.
US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken confirmed Tuesday that the US continues to pressure Iran, against the background of its controversial nuclear program, despite the prisoner exchange deal.
The Fars news agency affiliated with the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) quoted Khajeh as saying: Recently, several of these planes were flying over the Persian Gulf and were fully monitored by our radars from the moment they took off.”
He added, “All radars located in the south of the country were monitoring these planes momentarily, adding that all foreign forces' sorties in the Gulf region, the Strait of Hormuz, and the Gulf of Oman are monitored and will be warned if necessary.
- Increase in the military industry
Meanwhile, the official IRNA news agency reported, quoting the Executive Director of the Social Welfare Organization in the Armed Forces, Majid Ibn al-Ridha, that Iranian missile production has increased by 64 percent.
The commander also indicated that the production of speedboats upped 40 percent.
- Shadow of war
Meanwhile, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi criticized the classification of the IRGC on the terrorist list, defending its regional role and program to develop ballistic missiles and drones.
Raisi said, on the second day of the IRGC annual conference, that some claim their assumption of running the country will eliminate the possibility of war, whereas the shadow of war is eliminated by forces such as IRGC, the army, and the Basij that ensure security.
The Iranian President implicitly referred to one of the slogans raised by former President Hassan Rouhani during his 2013 and 2017 presidential campaigns.
Raisi said that Iran enjoys prestige, strength, and respect, and the enemies no longer consider threatening the country because of the effective deterrence force, such as missile and drone production.
The President directed his sharp criticism of Western powers, repeating previous statements that hadn’t it been for the regional presence of the IRGC and its convergence with popular forces in Syria, Iraq, and Afghanistan, ISIS would have taken control.
He continued, "If it were not for the presence of the IRGC in the region, Takfiri terrorism would have taken the entire Europe today."
Since April 2019, the US has classified the IRGC on the terrorist list. Western powers, especially European countries, have discussed the possibility of taking a similar step by blacklisting the forces after Iran provided Russia with drones during the past months.
It was the first general conference of the IRGC leaders post-COVID-19. Raisi arrived at the headquarters accompanied by senior leaders and the daughter of Qassem Soleimani, the head of the al-Quds Force whom the US assassinated in Iraq.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Guide, Ali Khamenei, gave the first speech, describing the IRGC as the "largest counterterrorism" organization.
Khamenei defended the role of the IRGC in the economy, infrastructure, and construction of roads, dams, and oil refineries.
He said the phrase "military options are on the table" to the IRGC's deterrence power and capabilities has become "trivial, meaningless, and worthless."
Khamenei and Raisi accused the Western power of "creating plots and sedition" over the past two years.
The President attacked Britain, after the recent interview of its former foreign minister, David Owen, with the Guardian newspaper.
Owen demanded the UK acknowledge its leading role in the 1953 coup that overthrew the democratically elected prime minister, Mohammad Mosaddegh, “for the sake of Britain’s credibility and the Iranian reform movement.”
Owen, who led the British diplomatic service from 1977 to 1979, said the “rule of the mullahs would be far worse than the rule of the shah in terms of human rights and personal happiness.”
“Sadly, that has been proven to be correct.”
He indicated that the Western powers made a mistake in the calculations when they left the negotiating table and were defeated by the Iranian people.
The Iranian President did not refer to the ongoing negotiations on the prisoners’ deal after Iran allowed four US citizens to move to a hotel under house arrest. A fifth detainee is already under house arrest.
