Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Major General Mohammad Baqeri has underscored the high maritime security of the Persian Gulf region, saying there has been a significant decrease in the presence of extra-regional fleets in the strategic area as a result.
"The significant reduction of extra-regional fleets in the Persian Gulf indicates the lasting security that the Islamic Republic of Iran has established in the region,” Bagheri said in an interview with Iran’s official news agency IRNA on Sunday, on the sidelines of a visit to an airbase in the southern city of Bushehr.
“The fully-established security in the region shows the accountability of the Islamic Republic of Iran, which has been ensured with round-the-clock aerial and naval patrols.”
The chief of staff of the Iranian Armed Forces pointed to the outcomes of the aforementioned security for residents in the Persian Gulf region, saying, “Under the ensured security in the Persian Gulf, we are witnessing the daily activities of people and coastal residents in the highly strategic province of Bushehr in the field of maritime trade and fishing, as well as activities in the field of oil and gas.”
Bagheri also announced the full readiness and high capability of the military and law enforcement units, including the Army, the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), and the Defense Ministry, to protect the country’s borders.
The Iranian military and political officials have on numerous occasions said Iran will never compromise on defending the country's interests and resources, warning that the security of the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz is a "red line."
They said the security of the Persian Gulf region should be established by regional countries, adding that there is no need for the presence of foreign forces in the international waterway.
Iranian officials have also described Israel's destabilizing activities as the main source of insecurity in the region, warning regional countries about the perils of allowing Tel Aviv to establish a foothold in the region.