Iran warns US: Militarization of Persian Gulf benefits no country

The Iranian administration has warned against any US adventurism aimed at militarizing the Persian Gulf, saying such moves would be in the interest of no country, whether in the region or elsewhere in the world.

“We do not consider the militarization of the Persian Gulf region to be in the interests of any country in the region and the world,” Ali Rabiei, the administration’s spokesman, said at his weekly presser on Tuesday.

He expressed hope that the United States will “finally give up its interventionist and divisive policy towards regional countries and stop adventurism beyond its borders.”

Rabiei’s remarks came after the US Navy announced last Monday the arrival of a nuclear-powered submarine in the Persian Gulf amid rising tensions between Tehran and Washington on the eve of the first anniversary of the assassination of Iran’s top anti-terror commander Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani on direct orders of outgoing US President Donald Trump.

Iran security chief: US' increased military activities in region out of fear, worsen insecurity

Iran

In its statement, US Navy officials said the USS Georgia entered the Strait of Hormuz accompanied by two American warships, making it the first missile-loaded submarine of its kind to travel the Persian Gulf in eight years.

The US Navy also announced in September that one of its aircraft carriers had sailed through the Strait of Hormuz and entered into the waters of the Persian Gulf in a bid to enforce Washington’s threats about the illegal extension of an expiring arms embargo on Iran.

Reacting to the deployment on Monday, Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Rear Admiral Ali Shamkhani said increased military activities by the US military in the West Asia region stems from Washington’s fear of the consequences of its past acts of mischief in this region.

In response to a question about the possibility of Russia, China and Iran establishing a joint base in the Persian Gulf or the Sea of ​​Oman, the spokesperson said Iran’s friendly relations with the two countries are at their best, and that “we have no limits to the expansion of these ties in all political and economic aspects.”

Iran, Russia will continue military cooperation regardless of US sanctions: Ambassador to Moscow

A senior Iranian ambassador says military cooperation between Iran and Russia will not be affected by the United States’ sanctions.

Iran has repeatedly stated that “security in the Persian Gulf must be provided by the littoral states of this region. This is the only way to achieve fair security for all countries and ensure long-term peace and stability,” he added.

Pointing to fruitful cooperation between Iran and Russia in various fields, such as the defense sector, at bilateral and regional levels, Rabiei said Tehran and Moscow have a common stance on the fight against terrorism and extremism, which has prepared the ground for joint efforts on regional issues, including Syria.

Iran’s Ambassador to Russia Kazem Jalali said earlier this month that Tehran and Moscow will maintain military cooperation and the United States’ sanctions will have no impact on the Islamic Republic’s military capabilities or its scientific research.

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