Iran’s SNSC Denies Military Retaliation Over Recent Air Restrictions
Iran’s Supreme National Security Council has denied reports that Tehran is considering military retaliation in response to recent air restrictions, saying negotiations are underway to remove the restrictions through diplomatic channels.
The Secretariat of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council issued a statement on Saturday in response to inaccurate reports concerning air transportation and recent restrictions.
The statement said inaccurate interpretations and quotations attributed to the council’s secretary regarding air transportation had raised questions and caused confusion.
It added that reports claiming Iran would resort to military retaliation in response to the recent air restrictions were false.
The statement said negotiations between Iran and the countries concerned to remove some of the unlawful air restrictions were being seriously pursued.
It further said that there were several non-military options for retaliation that could be implemented, if necessary, with regard to certain airports, while expressing hope that the situation would not reach that point.
The full statement reads:
“1. The claim that Iran will resort to military retaliation in response to the recent air restrictions is denied.
“2. Negotiations between Iran and the countries concerned to remove some of the unlawful air restrictions are being seriously pursued.
“3. There are several non-military options for retaliation that could be implemented, if necessary, with regard to certain airports. We hope, however, that the issue will not reach that point.”