Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi insisted on Friday that his country does not intend to start a full-scale war but will respond "strongly" to "those who bully us" if attacked.
Raisi made the statement in a speech broadcast by state television. The day before, he visited the province of Hormozgan, and while there, he announced the construction of a new nuclear plant and stressed that "the enemy cannot do anything against us because they know that our forces are strong and capable."
Raisi's comments came after the United States announced a "multi-tiered response" to what it claims are Iranian proxies' actions in the Middle East, which will reportedly include armed actions against Tehran-linked facilities in Iraq and Syria.
