As the number of incidents between US and Iranian armed forces in the vicinity of the Islamic Republic�s borders continues to increase, it appears that Washington remains insistent to keep assessing Tehran�s defensive capabilities using every tool at its disposal.

The most recent incident involved a P-8 and an EP-3 US reconnaissance aircraft that were flying in�close proximity to�the Iranian border. The planes were contacted by�Iranian military and were told to�change course or risk being shot down�if they violated the Islamic Republic�s border.

This is the latest in�a series of�recent altercations between�the US and Iran. The Pentagon claims its ships have been intercepted by�Iranian vessels on�at least 31 separate occasions since�January. Earlier this year, two US Navy patrol vessels drifted into�Iranian waters in�the Persian Gulf.

Crewmembers were apprehended by�the Revolutionary Guard in�an incident that nearly sparked an international crisis in�the midst of�the Iran nuclear negotiations. Emad Abshenass, editor-in-chief of�the Iran Press newspaper, told Sputnik that the US uses all means available to�spy on�Iran and to�assess the country�s defensive capabilities. "Ever since�the historical nuclear deal has been signed, the US keeps using the most sophisticated methods to�provoke a harsh reaction out�of Iran.

They seek to�determine how the Islamic Republic would react to�different provocations and challenges, and to�determine whether Iran gave up�the 'Resistance and Opposition to�the US' tactic," he explained. According to�Abshenass, the goal of�US forces is to�determine Iran�s readiness for�military engagements and to�gauge the country�s ability to�detect airborne intruders.

However, the Iranian military is well aware of�these intentions and reacts accordingly. He also pointed out�that when Iran�s security is at�stake, the Iranian military doesn�t care about�the nuclear deal, especially when an illegal violation of�the nation�s aerial or maritime borders takes place.

"As for�the reports made by�American media, when some US military officials claim that a warning issued by�Iranian forces to�a US crew is "unprofessional behavior," let�s consider the opposite�situation.

Imagine that, for�example, Russian or Iranian aircraft conduct a similar maneuver in�US airspace. Would the US military be content to�passively observe such behavior? That would be a good way to�determine whose behavior is professional and whose is not," he declared. Abshenass also remarked that the US is willing to�get its results at�any cost, and is ready to�sacrifice their hardware, and possibly even personnel, if it would help them to�complete their objectives. "An incident has already occurred when US spy drones intruded into�Iranian airspace. The Iranian security forces were able to�down and capture them intact in�order to�make copies of�these drones � copies that turned out�to be � in�terms of�technical characteristics � perhaps even better than�the US originals.

President Obama himself asked Iran to�return all of�the US drones� remains. However, Iran refused to�do so, and even presented one of�the copies to�its Russian allies," he said. All in�all, Abshenass surmised, Iran continues to�upgrade its electronic security and early warning systems, and Iranian air defense forces stand ready to�neutralize and destroy any enemy target that might attempt to�violate the country�s airspace.

By Sputnik