Iran Summons Swiss Ambassador after Trump’s Remarks

By Staff, Agencies

Iran summoned the Swiss ambassador in Tehran, who represents US interests in the country, over recent Gulf tensions, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Abbas Mousavi said Thursday.

The ambassador was given a message to pass on to the United States that Iran will strongly defend its maritime rights in the Gulf and respond to any threats.

Relatively, the head of Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards echoed this warning more aggressively Thursday, a day after US President Donald Trump warned Tehran over "harassment" of US vessels.

"I have ordered our naval forces to destroy any American terrorist force in the Persian Gulf that threatens security of Iran's military or non-military ships," Major General Hossein Salami said. "Security of the Persian Gulf is part of Iran's strategic priorities."

Trump said Wednesday he had instructed the US Navy to fire on any Iranian ships that harass it at sea, but said later he was not changing the military’s rules of engagement.