Shamkhani Scorns US Comments on Iranian Vessels
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Ali Shamkhani slammed as “media hue and cry” US officials’ comments about alleged provocative maneuvers by Iranian vessels in the Persian Gulf, saying American military presence in the region is unwelcome and illegal.
The propaganda exercise focusing on Iran’s activities in the Persian Gulf, including so-called provocative maneuvers by the IRGC vessels or air defense warnings to planes intending to violate Iran’s airspace, is “media hue and cry”, Shamkhani told reporters on Wednesday.
He also reminded the US that regional nations are opposed to American military presence in the Persian Gulf, which he said lacks legal grounds.
The top official also made it clear that it will be impossible to ensure peace and security in the Middle East region in the contemporary era without military power.
The comments came after top commander of US forces in the Middle East criticized Iran for what he called provocative and unsafe maneuvers in the Persian Gulf.
The episodes involving the IRGC naval forces are worrying because they risk triggering a dangerous escalation, General Joseph Votel, commander of US Central Command, said in late August.
And last week, US Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump said if Iran harasses US ships in the Persian Gulf, "they will be shot out of the water."
Back on May 2, Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei hammered the US for its schemes against Iran’s military presence in the Persian Gulf and made it clear that the Islamic Republic will continue to demonstrate power at its home, the Persian Gulf.
“The Persian Gulf is the Iranian nation’s home ..., and the coasts of the Persian Gulf and large parts of the Sea of Oman coasts belong to this strong nation,” Imam Khamenei said at the time.
