Foreigners (US, UK) must leave upon Iran drills: Navy chief

Iran’s Navy commander says that foreign military units should withdraw forces from Iran’s territorial waters in the Persian Gulf where the Islamic Republic is going to conduct its major naval drill.

Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari said Saturday that as soon as the timing of the Iranian Navy’s future drill is announced, foreign units as well as trans-regional marine forces should clear the area.

Sayyari also stated that the Iranian Navy is ready to confront any threat anywhere, but its military might poses no danger to the regional states.

“We tell the regional states that the might of Iran’s Armed Forces is no threat to them and our main intention is to establish security and stability in the region,” Sayyari said.

He added that establishment of peace and security in the region will be possible if foreigners leave the regional waters.

“We believe that such security and stability will be established only when the trans-regional states have no presence (in the area),” the Iranian commander said.

Elaborating on the Iranian Navy’s presence in high seas including the northern Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Aden, the Pacific Ocean, the Suez Canal, the Red Sea and the Mediterranean, Sayyari said the Navy plans to enter more remote seas including the Atlantic Ocean.

“The navy is making big strides in the global open waters as it aims to circumvent Africa and enter the Atlantic Ocean,” Sayyari said.