Dismissing as a “Hollywood-style” an American account of a recent encounter between the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps Navy and the US vessels in the Persian Gulf, the IRGC threatened a “decisive response” to any miscalculation by Washington.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the IRGC refuted the American account of the April 15 encounter between the Iranian forces and the US vessels in the northern parts of the Persian Gulf, saying the US Fifth Fleet has provided an “untrue, purposeful and Hollywood-style” description of the event.
The statement came after the US claimed that Iran’s naval vessels had come within 10 yards of American warships in the Persian Gulf in what the US Navy described as a series of “dangerous and harassing approaches”. The US Naval Forces Central Command has said that 11 small Iranian boats circled six US warships.
“In recent weeks, we have witnessed the recurrence of unprofessional behavior of the US Navy in the Persian Gulf threatening the security and stability of the region and posing new risks,” the Sunday statement read.
“Accordingly, IRGC has increased the capacity of its naval patrols in the waters of the Persian Gulf to prevent the continued illegal, unprofessional, dangerous, and even adventurous behavior of American terrorists, as well as to strengthen the security of domestic vessels and combat fuel smuggling.”
“In this regard, on April 15, after announcing the shooting situation in the training areas already marked with special coordinations on the map, the IRGC Navy sent 11 high-speed boats that they have encountered with US warships. Despite the unprofessional and provocative actions of American terrorists and their indifference to warnings, they were forced to withdraw from the IRGC naval vessels,” the statement added.
The IRGC said that the US Navy presented an incorrect and purposeful story of the incident, “which indicates that the Americans are interested in the Hollywood scenarios.”
It advised the US to abide by international regulations and maritime protocols in the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman, and to refrain from any adventures or false and fake scenarios.
“The IRGC navy and the powerful armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran will consider the dangerous behavior of foreigners in the region as a threat to their national security, and give a decisive response to any miscalculation error.”
“The illegitimate presence of the US terrorist regime is the source of evil and insecurity in the region, and the only way to maintain lasting security in this strategic region is exit of the Americans from West Asia,” the IRGC statement concluded.
Source: Iranian media
