Iran not after closing Strait of Hormuz: Military chief
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
Tehran, April 28, IRNA -- Closing the Strait of Hormuz is not on the agenda of Iran's Armed Forces who are providing the security of the critical waterway, Iranian military chief of staff Major General Mohammad Baqeri said on Sunday.
He made the remarks on the sidelines of the 3rd conference of Iran's police commanders and senior officers.
'We want to keep the strategic Strait of Hormuz open since a huge amount of goods and oil from various countries, including Iran, pass through the strait and Iran's Armed Forces are responsible for providing the security in the strait,' Major General Mohammad Baqeri said.
The Iranian Government announced that Iran does not want to close the Strait of Hormuz, he told reporters. 'However if the enemies intensify their hostility, we have the ability to do so,' the official noted.
'Today, all ships and warships from region and outside the region should respond to the Islamic Revolution's Guards Corps (IRGC) in the Strait of Hormuz, and the American warships have so far had responded to IRGC investigations without any problem,' Baqeri said.
According to International Law of the Sea, the warships passing through Iranian territorial waters have to deliver valid papers to Iranian Navy forces.
9156**1416
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
