US missile shield in PG meant to protect Israel: Cmdr. Safavi

A top Iranian military commander says the United States seeks to establish a missile shield system in the Persian Gulf to ensure the security of Zionist Israel.

Brigadier General Yahya Rahim-Safavi, senior military adviser to the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, said Monday that protecting Zionist Israel was the main reason behind the US plan to build a missile shield project in the Persian Gulf.

He said that the US was responsible for the security of Israel, adding that every American president puts Israel’s existence and security on his government’s agenda.

According to Safavi, the US missile shield would form a ring which starts from Turkey and includes Iraq and the Persian Gulf region.

He said that the US followed a second objective in building the system, which was to sell arms to the Persian Gulf states so that Washington can pay for billions of dollars of oil imports from these countries.

The senior military official said the US wants to build the system in order to counter Iran despite Tehran following a completely defensive strategy.

He said that the missile system posed a threat both to Iran and Russia, and warned Persian Gulf littoral states to think twice before agreeing to host the system.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on March 31 announced the idea of a missile defense shield in the six members of the [Persian] Gulf Cooperation Council: Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Oman.

She proposed improved collaboration with the Persian Gulf Arab states on maritime security and missile defense to counter what she called “potential threats” from Iran.