Two days after Iran’s leader’s remarks about the necessity of continuing Iranian military exercises in the Persian Gulf, Hossein Salami, the deputy commander-in-chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, announced the continuation of Iran’s maneuvers in the Persian Gulf, stating “We are very dangerous to the Americans if they want to be a threat.”
Mr. Salami said on Tuesday evening, 14 Ordibehesht (May 3), during an appearance on one of Iran’s official television programs, “We have developed and organized our naval power to overcome a great power like America, because we have no other great power and enemy besides America, as the rest do not have that capacity.”
The deputy commander of the IRGC said, “Americans’ perception of our power is far less than reality. We firmly and powerfully continue to expand our naval and missile deterrent capabilities, and we conduct our exercises according to schedule based on political and military interests, and we do not accept any limitations from any power in the world.”
Previously, Habibollah Sayyari, commander of Iran’s navy, had said, “The enemies do not want us to have a powerful presence in the Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf, but we will have a powerful presence in these points and it does not matter to anyone, and we will hold our exercises.”
Statements by Iranian military commanders about continuing military exercises in the Persian Gulf come after recent remarks by Ayatollah Khamenei, who said, “When we are afraid to show our power in front of the enemy, the enemy becomes audacious.”
Mr. Khamenei said on Sunday of this week, “They say Iran should not hold exercises in the Persian Gulf; what nonsense, they hold exercises from the other side of the world; well, go to that pigs’ gulf, what are you doing here? The Persian Gulf is our home. It is a place for the presence of the Iranian people, this is how one should confront greedy powers.”
The official website of Ayatollah Khamenei states that the recent remarks of Iran’s leader are a response to a draft resolution in the U.S. Congress that seeks to “prohibit any Iranian exercises in the Persian Gulf.”
This refers to actions by Randy Forbes, a Republican representative from Virginia and chairman of the Subcommittee on Seapower and Projection Forces of the House Armed Services Committee.
Mr. Forbes recently prepared a resolution in Congress calling for U.S. government action against Iran’s activities in the Persian Gulf waters, stating that Iran has repeatedly failed to comply with international maritime law and has weakened the security of this sea by conducting military exercises in the Persian Gulf.
He also referenced the detention of American sailors by Iran last winter in the Persian Gulf and described this action as illegal.
In what appears to be a response to this part of Mr. Forbes’ proposed resolution, the deputy commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said, “If we acted unprofessionally, would one of the American sailors who was captured on January 12, 2016, remain alive? They believe our naval force is dangerous; of course this is a fact, and in my opinion, this is the first time that Americans have gained a correct understanding of our naval power.”
Mr. Salami said, “We warn America, its regional partners and allies, if they want to use threatening language and threaten us… we will not allow the passage and transit of any ship or vessel that wants to threaten us.”
Source: BBC Persian
