Iran Press/Middle East: The US Navy claimed that, this month's military drills in Persian Gulf and Red Sea will guarantee freedom of movement through the waterways.
US 5th Fleet Theater Counter Mine and Maritime Security Exercise Commander Scott A. Stearney recently told reporters in Manama that the exercises in Persian Gulf and Red Sea, which involve both regional and global allies, "illustrate that the US and our partners stand ready to ensure the freedom of navigation and free flow of commerce wherever international law allows," Bloomberg reported Sunday.
According to Stearney, US allies need to be ready to "address anything that threatens our interest or our [US] ships," adding that Iran's activities in the Persian Gulf and Red Sea areas are "promoting instability."
One of the US Navy exercises is occuring in Djibouti, a known choke point for global shipping at the southern end of the Red Sea.
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Ghasemi: "Iran will reciprocate if America blocks Iran's oil exports"
IRGC Commander: Revolution Guards preserve security of the Strait of Hormuz
In Jul. 24, the Iranian foreign ministry spokesman, Bahram Ghasemi, has warned the United States about the serious repercussions of blocking Iran's oil exports. Ghasemi warned that Iran will respond commensurately to such a move.
In Aug. 27, the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Commander Major General Mohammad Ali Jafari said that IRGC Navy is preserving the security of the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz.
In Jul. 17, First vice president, Eshagh Jahangiri, has stressed that all countries need Iran's crude oil, arguing that stopping Iran's oil exports altogether is impossible , and that Tehran can always find new ways of selling crude.
In June, the US Department of State urged oil companies to stop exporting oil from Iran by November to avoid US sanctions, after President Donald Trump said in May that the United States would leave the nuclear agreement with Iran.
In an exclusive interview with Iran Press news agency, on the sidelines of a conference at Iran's National Defense University ,General Mohammad-Hassan Nami said: "The world should respect Iran and its' ability to secure the Persian Gulf".
In Apr. 30, Vice commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps , General Hossein Salami has said: "Iran maintains security in the Persian Gulf."
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