News: Middle East: The General Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces has sternly warned the United States and the Zionist regime against any renewed aggression against the Islamic Republic, stressing that such folly will be met with a crushing response much stronger than that of the 12-day imposed war in June.

The top Iranian military body released a statement on Saturday, as it commemorated the release anniversary of the prisoners of war from Iraq.

On August 17, 1990, the Iraqi Ba’athist regime released over 40,000 Iranian prisoners of war in a reciprocal exchange for a similar number of Iraqi prisoners held by Iran.

This blessed anniversary marks a reminder of the epic deeds and selfless sacrifices of the brilliant and matchless children of the heroic, sovereign, and farsighted Iranian nation, the statement read.

It noted that freedom-loving Iranian people, through their unparalleled perseverance and steadfastness in the face of aggressors, turned the chains of captivity into burning flames of rage and steely willpower, and taught an unforgettable lesson to enemies.

The General Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces highlighted that the Islamic Republic has recorded many golden pages of firm faith and unparalleled zeal ever since its inception in 1979, and notched up epics and glorious victories in various spheres.

“Global arrogant powers have not learned from their successive past failures since the victory of the Islamic Revolution 46 years ago. They once again launched an act of aggression against Islamic Iran in cooperation with the bogus, savage and child-killing Zionist regime – their devoted agent and proxy in the region.

“However, as many experts, analysts, politicians and observers have acknowledged, this sinister plot brought them nothing other than a disgraceful defeat, humiliation and shame,” the statement read.

The General Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces then cautioned the criminal and malicious America as well as the savage Zionist regime to cease their conspiracies and hostility against the powerful and invincible Iran.

It said in the event of any miscalculation or hostile act, what led to Iran’s restraint and prevented large-scale operations during the 12-day imposed war, will not be repeated.

The statement concluded that enemies will instead face new surprises and measures far more crushing and destructive than before.

On June 13, the Israeli regime launched its aggression targeting senior Iranian officials and nuclear scientists in an act of terrorism that killed scores of civilians as well. Days later, the United States escalated the war by bombing three civilian nuclear facilities in Iran.

In a powerful response, the Iranian Armed Forces launched retaliatory strikes on strategic Israeli targets across the occupied territories and also hit the al-Udeid air base in Qatar, the largest American military outpost in West Asia.

On June 24, Iran, through its successful retaliatory operations against both the Israeli regime and the US, managed to impose a halt to the illegal assault as Tel Aviv, overwhelmed by the counterstrikes, was compelled to seek a ceasefire.

Source: Press TV