Iran army sends notice to U.S. destroyers in Persian Gulf

Azerbaijan, Baku, April 18 / Trend S.Isayev, T. Jafarov/ Naval forces of the Iranian army sent a warning regarding several security-breaching areas of the Persian Gulf to the U.S. destroyers that are patrolling the Gulf, Chief Commander of the Iranian army, General Ataollah Salehi said, Fars reported. "We notified the destroyers that they should stay away from these areas in the Gulf, and our notification was accepted," Salehi said. He added that the presence of U.S. destroyers in the Gulf is nothing more than a show-off gesture, without any military significance. "There are foreign military bases in the Gulf countries," Salehi said. "However the equipment on these bases is bigger than these ships that patrol the Gulf". Tensions with Iran have soared as the U.S. and its allies have tightened sanctions against the country over its nuclear program. Tehran has responded by threatening to close the Strait of Hormuz. Tehran has threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz several times, blocking a considerable share of global oil exports, if Western sanctions are imposed on Iranian oil. The U.S. has responded by threatening to use military force. Iranian officials have said earlier that the presence of many warships in the Gulf destabilizes the security in the region. In Feb. 2012 the U.S. and its allies began to transfer their troops to the Persian Gulf, Interfax reported citing Israeli sources. The troops arrived at the Omani island Masirah, located south of the Strait of Hormuz, where the U.S. Air Force base is placed. Huffington Post reported that a U.S. base on the British island of Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean brought hundreds of concrete-bomb capable of destroying fortified underground bunkers. Same sources also reported that France will send a "Charles de Gaulle" nuclear aircraft carrier into the Persian Gulf. It is expected that in March-April at least four U.S. and French aircraft carrier battle groups will be placed in East of Persian Gulf, according to Interfax. Do you have any feedback? Contact our journalist at agency@trend.az