Extra-regional presence in Persian Gulf source of insecurity: Zarif

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has condemned the United States’ attempts to set up a military coalition in the Persian Gulf to counter what it calls the “Iran threat,” stressing that the presence of extra-regional military forces in the strategic region will act as a “source of insecurity.”

Zarif, in a post published on his official Twitter page on Friday, described the Persian Gulf as a vital lifeline, and accordingly a national security priority for Iran.

He added that Iran has long acted as the guarantor of maritime security in the body of water, emphasizing that the Islamic Republic will not be reluctant to safeguard its security.

Earlier in the day, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi pointed to “illegitimate existence” of the Israeli regime in the Middle East as a source of insecurity and instability.

He highlighted that Iran considers possible Israeli presence in a US-led coalition in the Persian Gulf as a clear threat to its national security, and reserves the right to counter it. 

PressTV-Iran says reserves right to counter Israel in Persian Gulf

Iran says it reserves right to confront a possible Israeli presence in a US-led Persian Gulf coalition in the Persian Gulf.

"Within the framework of the country's deterrence and defensive policy, the Islamic Republic of Iran reserves the right to counter this threat and defend its territory," Mousavi noted.

"The US regime and the illegitimate Zionist regime are responsible for all the consequences of this dangerous move," the spokesman added.

Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz said on August 7 that the regime would be part of the US-led coalition to “protect the security of the Persian Gulf”.

Katz claimed that Israel was determined to stop “Iranian entrenchment” in the Middle East region and strengthen Tel Aviv’s relationship with Persian Gulf countries, Israeli news website Ynet reported.

On Thursday, Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Amir Hatami warned against the consequences of a maritime coalition force the US plans to create in the Persian Gulf, stressing that regional security comes within the purview of regional states alone.

In separate telephone conversations with his Kuwaiti, Qatari and Omani counterparts, Brigadier General Hatami underscored that “The military coalition that the US wants to form under the pretext of providing shipping security will only further escalate insecurity in the region.”

PressTV-'US-led PG mission will sow insecurity in region'

Iran's defense chief says a United States-proposed coalition purportedly seeking to beef up maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz will bring nothing but insecurity to the region.

“Security of the region is a common concern of Iran and the Persian Gulf neighbors, therefore, we believe that security must be provided by the regional countries, who should enter constructive negotiations in this regard,” the Iranian defense minister noted.

US Marine General Joseph Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said on July 9 that the US was proceeding with plans to assemble the coalition purportedly aimed at ensuring freedom of navigation in waters off Iran and Yemen.

US to form military coalition in PG against Iran ‘threat’

The US military’s top general says Washington has engaged in talks with a number of countries to form an international military coalition to deter what it calls Iran’s threat to shipping in the Persian Gulf region.

"We're engaging now with a number of countries to see if we can put together a coalition that would ensure freedom of navigation both in the Straits of Hormuz and the Bab al-Mandab," Dunford said.

"And so I think probably over the next couple of weeks we'll identify which nations have the political will to support that initiative and then we'll work directly with the militaries to identify the specific capabilities that'll support that," he added.

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