- Sputnik International
World
Get the latest news from around the world, live coverage, off-beat stories, features and analysis.

Iran Will Secure Maritime Borders, Give ‘Crushing Reaction’ to Any Aggression - Navy Commander

© AFP 2023 / STRIranian military ships frigate "Alvand" (R) and light replenishment ship "Bushehr"
Iranian military ships frigate Alvand (R) and light replenishment ship Bushehr  - Sputnik International
Subscribe
Earlier, the head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Major General Hossein Salami, said that any country that attacks Iran would be the "main battlefield".

Iran's Navy Commander Hossein Khanzadi has said that Tehran is prepared to defend its maritime borders and will respond with a "crushing reaction" to any aggression by enemies.

"In case of any miscalculation and aggression by the enemy, (the navy), along with other armed forces of the country, will give the most crushing reaction in the shortest time possible," Rear Admiral Hossein Khanzadi said as quoted by Mehr news agency. "Today, the Islamic Republic of Iran’s defence power is at its highest possible level and army and (Revolutionary Guards) forces are ready to defend the maritime borders of the country."

Earlier, Iran's President Hassan Rouhani said that Iran will not allow anyone to violate its borders. He added that the Islamic Republic extends the hand of friendship to all of its neighbours.

Cooperation Project on Security in Persian Gulf

Iran will present a proposal to the UN on how it intends to cooperate with other countries in the region to ensure the security of the Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz, according to Rouhani.

"In a few days we will present a project to the global community in the United Nations, according to which Iran in cooperation and with the help of the countries of the region will ensure security of the Persian Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz and the Gulf of Oman," Rouhani said in a speech broadcast live on Iranian state television.

In August, the United States called upon Australia, France, Germany, Japan, Norway, South Korea and the United Kingdom, among others, to join a coalition that would ensure safe maritime passage through the strategic pathways of the Gulf by means of aerial surveillance and actual patrol ships. The United Kingdom and the United Arab Emirates have already supported the plea. London has sent its Navy vessels Kent and Defender to join the Montrose and Duncan destroyers in the Hormuz Strait.

Tensions Over Drone Attacks

Last week, the drone attack on Saudi Aramco forced the Saudi Arabian national oil company to shut down its Abqaiq and Khurais facilities. Although the responsibility was claimed by the military wing of Yemen's Ansar Allah movement, also known as the Houthis, Saudi Arabia and the United States have put the blame on Iran. Tehran has refuted the accusations.

US Defence Secretary Mark Esper and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Joseph Dunford announced on Friday that the US would be sending some of its forces to Saudi Arabia "in response to the Kingdom's request". Esper added that the deployment of US forces will be defensive in nature.  

On 21 September, the US had redeployed the USS Nitze destroyer to the northeast coast of Saudi Arabia in a bid to "plug the gap" in Saudi Arabia's air defences that was allegedly used in the raid on its oil facilities. 

Earlier, the US administration ordered new economic sanctions against Iran, targeting the country's central bank and its sovereign wealth fund. The Iranian Foreign Ministry responded by saying that Americans should understand that their sanctions policy has failed. 

Newsfeed
0
To participate in the discussion
log in or register
loader
Chats
Заголовок открываемого материала