Iran Navy Commander:

Time to Expel Outsiders from Region

TEHRAN (defapress) – Commander of the Iranian Navy Rear Admiral Hossein Khanzadi highlighted the Middle Eastern countries’ power to jointly ensure the security of the region and said the time is ripe for expelling outsiders.

News ID: 75685

Date: 18 February 2019 - 11:41

Speaking to the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) on Sunday night, Rear Admiral Khanzadi said regional countries are fully capable of ensuring the security of the region with the help of each other.

“It is time to expel the outsiders from the region because this region does not need their presence at all,” the commander added.

Admiral Khanzadi further pointed to the foreign threats against the country and said, “Our clear message to those who entertain the idea of (posing) a military threat to the Islamic Republic of Iran is that they should be prepared to receive a strong and surprising blow from the Navy's fighters at sea.”

Iran has frequently criticized the presence of foreign forces in the Persian Gulf, stressing that it disrupts security in the region and that only regional states are responsible for safeguarding the security in the body of water.

In remarks in 2016, Ayatollah Khamenei underlined that security of the Persian Gulf region comes within the purview of the regional countries alone.

“The Persian Gulf security relates to the countries of the region which have common interests, and not to the US. So, security of the Persian Gulf region should be provided by the countries of this region itself,” the Leader said.

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