Iran’s defense minister warns enemies of committing any foolishness

TEHRAN, Oct. 02 (YPA) – Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Ashtiani warned the enemies of committing “any foolishness  and ignorant step.”

“The enemies of the Iranian people will certainly receive an overwhelming response to any foolish and ignorant move they take and will pay a heavy price,” Ashtiani tweeted Friday night.

The defense minister’s statement coincided with the start of Fatehan of Kheibar military drill in   northwest of the country with the participation of the Shield Brigades 216, 316, Brigade 25, Artillery Group 11, Electronic Warfare Group and 433 Combat Engineering Group, supported by army air helicopters.

Differences between Iran and Azerbaijan have escalated in recent days, after the Baku government imposed strict tariffs on trucks transporting Iranian fuel to Stepanakert, the capital of the self-proclaimed Armenian-backed Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev denounced Iran’s plans to conduct the exercises, while Tehran expressed “astonishment” at the remarks, blaming Baku for cooperating with Israel near the Iranian border.

E.M