Iran says closely watching 'mischievous' US moves in Persian Gulf

Tehran has said it is closely watching the movements of the United States in West Asia, a day after the Pentagon ordered an American aircraft carrier to remain in the region.

“The measures and movements and certain mischievous acts of the United States are not hidden from our eyes,” Foreign Ministry Spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said at a press conference on Monday. “Our intelligence, security and military organizations are fully aware of the ostensibly secretive movements of the United States in the region and in Iraq.”

On Sunday, acting US Secretary of Defense Christopher Miller instructed the USS Nimitz to remain in place due to what he described as purported Iranian threats “against President Trump and other US government officials,” reversing an earlier decision to move the carrier out of West Asia.

The carrier will now remain on station in the US Central Command area of operations, Miller said. “No one should doubt the resolve of the United States of America.”

The statement was released on the day Iran and Iraq marked the first martyrdom anniversary of their two popular commanders, Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani, Commander of Iran’s IRGC Quds Force, and his Iraqi trenchmate Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, Deputy Commander of Iraq’s Hashd al-Sha’abi anti-terror force.

The two commanders, along with their companions, were assassinated in a US terrorist attack on January 3, 2020 in Baghdad upon a direct order by US President Donald Trump.

Tensions have soared recently due to fears in Washington of retaliatory attacks against its regional positions on the assassination anniversary.

On Wednesday, the US flew two nuclear-capable B-52 bombers over the Persian Gulf in a show of force that Pentagon authorities said was aimed at warning Iran against conducting retaliatory attacks.

It was the third time in six weeks that American bombers conducted long-range flights off the Iranian coast.

Khatibzadeh said Iran has sent clear messages to Washington and regional countries over the provocative moves. “The regional countries have been told not to fall prey to these mischievous acts,” he remarked.

The neighboring countries, he continued, know well how the United States’ unilateralism and its acts of defiance have harmed regional nations.

“The US would bear responsibility for the consequences of any adventure,” the spokesman warned. “If any action is taken, we will respond clearly and without a moment’s hesitation.”

ME