Tasnim � A top Iranian military commander underlined the country�s military preparedness to counter US threats, saying the American leaders should feel responsibility for their forces� lives and avoid any wrongdoing in the Middle East.

�The Islamic Republic of Iran is in a strategic confrontation with the US-Zionist-Saudi alliance to protect regional� stability and power,� Commander of the Khatam al-Anbia Headquarters Major General Gholam Ali Rashid said, addressing a gathering of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) commanders on Sunday.

�The US government should act responsibly and protect the lives of American forces by avoiding wrong behaviors in the region,� the commander added.

�In the event of any conflict in the region, its scope and timing could not be managed by any country,� he warned.

�We have not been seeking war but we will powerfully defend the interests of the honorable nation of Iran against any kind of threat and aggression,� Major General Rashid stated.

The remarks came against the backdrop of increased tensions between Iran and the US after the Islamic Republic shot down an advanced US spy drone over its territorial waters.

The IRGC said on Thursday that a US spy drone that violated the Iranian territorial airspace in the early hours of the day was shot down by the IRGC Aerospace Force�s air defense unit near the Kooh-e-Mobarak region in the southern province of Hormozgan.

The intruding drone was reportedly shot by Iran�s homegrown air defense missile system �Khordad-3rd�.

In comments made a few hours after the incident, IRGC Commander Major General Hossein Salami said the shooting down of the US aircraft had a straightforward message that any foreign intrusion into Iran�s sovereign territories would draw a crushing response.

�The downing of the US drone had an explicit, decisive and clear message that defenders of the Islamic Iran�s borders will show decisive and knockout reactions to aggression against this territory by any alien,� he said.

�Borders are our redline, and any enemy violating these borders will not go back,� the commander underlined.

He also made it clear that Iran is not seeking war with any country but is fully prepared for any confrontation. �Today�s incident was a clear sign of such a precise message.�

The general also reminded the enemies that the only way for them to remain safe is to respect Iran�s territorial integrity, national security and vital interests.