Iran vows to respond to U.S. "harassment" of airliner

Iran's Foreign Ministry Monday said that the Islamic republic will respond to the recent U.S. "harassment" of an Iranian airliner over Syrian airspace.

On Thursday evening, two U.S. fighter jets came close to an Iranian Beirut-bound passenger plane over Syrian airspace, which forced the pilot of Iran's Mahan Air to change altitude to avoid collision.

The Iranian plane had to dive and make a quick landing at the Beirut airport after U.S. warplanes blocked its passage.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi called the incident a very dangerous "terrorist and hostile" act that contradicted all legal and international laws.

"The Iranian Foreign Ministry will definitely take all necessary measures, together with the General Staff of the Armed Forces, the Judiciary, and Iran's Civil Aviation Organization, to make the Americans regret this episode," Mousavi said, according to Iranian TV.

(CGTN)