TEHRAN SAYS IT IS READY FOR STRONG RESPONSE AMID US TENSIONS

TEHERAN, MAY 21 /SRNA/ - The United States is seeking to start a new war and force Iran into surrender, but Tehran is ready to "respond strongly", Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said.

Ghalibaf stated that close monitoring of political developments in the United States indicates that Washington still hopes for "the surrender of the Iranian nation".

"Hostile actions, both overt and covert, show that despite economic and political pressure, they have not abandoned military goals and are seeking to start a new war", Ghalibaf said in an audio message carried by Iranian media.