Iran to US: Naval Forces Should Leave Gulf Region

Local Editor

Iran's Defense Minister Hossein Dehghan on Thursday depicted the US naval forces in the Persian Gulf as armed intruders and called on Washington to leave the region.

"What are the Americans doing in the Persian Gulf? It is better they leave this region and do not create trouble for the regional countries," he said in a reaction to latest statements by US military officials.

"Is it acceptable that an armed, insane thief breaks into someone's house and expects the red carpet to be rolled out for him? This is one modern example of the 21st century barbarism," he added.

The Iranian defense minister's remarks appear to be a reaction to comments made by the commander of the US Central Command [CENTCOM], Army Gen. Joseph Votel, during a testimony to the House Armed Services Committee Wednesday.

Earlier this month, the US Navy claimed that its aircraft carrier George H.W. Bush had been "harassed" and "threatened" by Iranian vessels while passing through the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran's chief Armed Forces spokesman, Brigadier General Massoud Jazayeri, dismissed the claim, saying Washington had better look at the movements of its own naval forces in the region.

Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps [IRGC['s Navy has on several occasions forced US Navy vessels to change course before wandering into Iranian territorial waters.

The Islamic Republic has repeatedly warned that any act of transgression into its territorial waters would be met with an immediate and befitting response.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team