TEHRAN -- Iranian Army’s Air Defense Force has strongly rejected reports that claimed Israeli F-35 fighter jets had penetrated the Islamic Republic’s airspace during the past two months, saying that Iran is monitoring skies thousands of kilometers away from its borders.
“This claim is also similar to their other claims. Such a thing has never happened as air defense’s smart network is conducting monitoring every second,” commander of the force Brigadier General Alireza Sabahi-Fard, said on Thursday.
Iran’s radar systems watch not just the country’s air borders but “thousands of kilometers” away, stressed the commander.
“Our enemies sometimes make some comments to see our reaction but we have demonstrated our reaction in the field and will God willing do so again.”
Saudi-backed media outlet Elaph had earlier made the claim about F-35 penetrations, adding that the occupying regime Israel and the U.S. had also held secret exercises aimed at striking Iran on the Red Sea and seizing Iranian warships in the Persian Gulf.
The report came as the Zionist regime is boasting about its military capabilities, explicitly threatening to attack Iran’s nuclear facilities as talks on reviving the 2015 nuclear deal are entering final stages.
Tehran has made it clear that any Israeli aggression on its soil will be met with a crushing response.
Back on April 18, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi issued a stern warning to the occupying regime while addressing a parade to mark Iran’s Army Day.
“Just know that if the slightest move on your part occurs against our nation, our armed forces will target the center of the Zionist regime, and the power of our armed forces will not leave you at rest,” he warned.
Earlier on Thursday, chief commander of Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Major General Hussein Salami said that the country’s armed forces are ready to respond to all enemy threats at any level.
“The armed forces have fortunately achieved determining successes in various defense fields, including electronics as an advanced and high-level technology,” Salami

said during a visit to an exhibition of Iran’s defense industry achievements in electronic warfare, air defense, drones and cruise missiles.
Tehran has brushed aside Israeli threats as part of the regime’s psychological warfare against Iran.
“The Zionist regime’s recent threats are just psychological warfare and this regime has neither the courage nor the capability to confront Iran militarily,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani said in an interview with Al-Alam TV on July 19.
“Iran’s response to any idiocy committed by the Zionist regime would be destructive,” Kanaani said.
Days earlier, Zionist army chief Aviv Kohavi said it was Israel’s “moral obligation” to prepare a military response against Iran’s nuclear program, adding that such preparation is “at the center” of the military’s preparations.
During a press conference on Monday, president Raisi said Israeli officials would not find any opportunity to take an action against Iran.
“They should see whether anything of them would be left once they decide to attack Iran,” the president stressed.