Iran's Naval chief said on Monday that there is no need for "alien" ships in the Persian Gulf, sparking concerns that he may decide to shut down a vital shipping lane for Gulf oil exports, RT reported.
Rear Admiral Ali Reza Tangsiri spoke to reporters this week about Iran's intelligence and the monitoring of "hostile forces" in the gulf, the Tasnim News Agency reported.
"We have a message for our Muslim neighbors, and have announced several times that we extend the hand of fraternity to you (the neighbors) and believe that the Persian Gulf is our home, so we can ensure the security of the Persian Gulf and there is no need for the presence of aliens like the US and the countries whose home is not in here," Tangsiri said, according to the Tasnim News Agency.
The presence of foreign warships to the enclosed Persian Gulf could create environmental problems and disrupt security in the region, Tangsiri said.
The remarks have reignited concerns that Iran would block the Strait of Hormuz, which is a major shipping route that sees about 20 percent of oil pass through, Fox News reported.
Recently Iran's president Hassan Rouhani's suggested that Gulf oil exports be blocked should its own exports be stopped.
Rouhani's apparent threat earlier to disrupt oil shipments from neighboring countries came in reaction to looming U.S. sanctions and efforts by Washington to force all countries to stop buying Iranian oil.
Addressing this, Lieutenant Chloe Morgan, spokesperson for the U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, said that the U.S. and its Arab allies "stand ready to ensure the freedom of navigation and the free flow of commerce wherever international law allows," RT reported.
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