US presence in the Persian Gulf region a strategic mistake: Defense Minister

Defense Minister of the Islamic Republic of Iran Brigadier General Amir Hatami warned the Persian Gulf countries not to make the strategic mistake of allowing the US entry into the region, cautioning that insecurity in the Persian Gulf will make the whole regional states insecure.

According to Tasnim News Agency, speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a visit to a naval factory of the Defense Ministry in the southern port city of Bandar Abbas on Friday, Brigadier General Hatami said Iran is doing its utmost to ensure security in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz.

Security of the Persian Gulf is in the common interest of all regional countries, the general noted, adding, “The countries in this gulf’s region are responsible for ensuring and maintaining security, and the neighbors’ move to allow the US entry into the region is a strategic mistake.”

“When the Persian Gulf region is safe, all regional countries will benefit from such security, but if it becomes insecure, it will be insecure for all countries in the region,” the minister warned.

He also took a swipe at the outsiders for fomenting insecurity and crisis in the region under the pretext of ensuring security of the Persian Gulf, saying the foreigners are seeking to sell billions of dollars in arms and maintain their bases in the region by inciting Iranophobia, creating crisis in the Persian Gulf, and making them dependent on outsiders for security.

The minister also paid a visit to the industrial shops manufacturing two military vessels, a destroyer and a minesweeper.

He said the homegrown ‘Dena’ destroyer is a Mowj-class vessel that will be equipped with advanced systems and will soon join the Iranian Navy’s fleet.

The minister further hailed the production of ‘Saba’ minesweeper as a glory of the Iranian military technicians in the naval combat sphere, saying the warship will begin to detect and counter the threat of naval mines in the regional waters.

General Hatami then reaffirmed that the Defense Ministry will fully support the naval industries to enable them to protect the country’s territorial waters in the international waters, the Sea of Oman, and the coasts of Makran.

“The Iranian Navy’s powerful presence is considered as a reliable support in the fight against terrorism in the seas,” the minister underscored.

SS