Commander of the IRGC (the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps) Navy Ali Fadavi, who was speaking in a program of IRIB on Monday evening, said the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz are the most strategic spots in the world adding “the whole region is surrounded by Muslim countries with Iran enjoying the largest share of borderlines.”
The commander highlighted that the Persian Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz and the Sea of Oman also include international waters leading to presence of other countries.
Pointing to great resources of Americans in the region, the official noted “the US has attracted regional and non-regional allies in the waters forming an unnatural military array.”
“Passing through territorial waters is possible under certain regulations,” highlighted Fadavi adding “accordingly, they have not crossed Iranian waters for numerous years.”
“We have informed Americans that their presence in the Persian Gulf is an absolute evil,” he stated.
IRGC navy commander went on to maintain that “upon Iran’s request, Persian speakers are present on almost all American warships in the Persian Gulf as most conversations were conducted in Farsi during recent detention of US marines by the IRGC Navy.”
The Commander further warned Americans that innocent passage in both water and air space of the Persian Gulf would not apply to American vessels and drones.
On US sensitivity to Iran’s naval exercises in the Persian Gulf, Fadavi said “American officials need to improve their understanding of Iran though they currently possess an accurate and true understanding of executive aspects of the region.”
“Undoubtedly, America’s threats against the Islamic Revolution have not declined even by the smallest degree,” stressed the official.
Fadavi later quoted the US Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter who had said a few weeks earlier “together with regional and non-regional allies, we seek to deploy our capabilities to the region in order to create a deterrence power against Iran.”
“The statements by the US official represent the American image of the region and the Islamic Revolution,” underlined Fadavi commenting “Iran’s great power has forced US to consider creation of deterrent capabilities.”
“They once wanted to be the sole beneficiary of regional interests, but later felt the need to share the interests with other partners in exchange for more abilities,” he emphasized.
“Since regional countries do not exercise full sovereignty, they succumbed to partnership with Americans while extra-regional states also joined forces with the US,” added the commander.
Stressing that the future of the world depends on the Persian Gulf, the official said “Americans are aware that Iran would destroy their warships if they take a wrong measure in the region.”
Fadavi rejected the holding of joint naval patrols in the Persian Gulf by extra-regional countries asserting “currently, Britain, US and France remain the main actors in the region.”
He commander further pointed out that Americans are trying to involve others in regional issues; “by doing so, US will lose control of everything.”
The official said in the current Iranian year many naval exercises will take place adding “every year, a large number of exercises and regional drills are held though some of them are not publically announced.”
“Exercises pursue multiple objectives, including preparation and testing of new weapons,” he maintained.
“There has never been normal conditions in the Persian Gulf and Americans can feel the presence of IRGC navy forces at any spot,” highlighted Fadavi asserting “US has developed a full and complete image of Islamic Revolution forces.”
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