jagalman
28-03-2007, 11:00 PM
Tehran, March 28--Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps on Wednesday dismissed rumors that the US had staged wargames in the Persian Gulf.
"Based on the IRGC observations in the region over recent days, the US forces have not staged any military exercise," said IRGC navy commander Rear Admiral Tangsiri while denying a US navy commander's claim that the US had launched an unusual and unprecedented wargame in Persian Gulf, involving 100 navy aircraft.
"Our navy forces, stationed in the Persian Gulf and Hormuz Strait, keep a close eye on the region and fully control any movement by foreign forces," added Tangsiri.
Also ruling out claims about Iran's missile test, Tangsiri said, "Americans want to tarnish the image of Iran in the region. Such statements are in line with the extensive psychological warfare launched by the US."
In this while, the United States on Wednesday denied that its naval exercises in the Gulf are meant to pressure Iran, and stressed US support for Britain as Tehran holds 15 of its naval personnel.
"These military exercises were long planned and so there is no escalation of tension on our part," spokeswoman Dana Perino said.
On Tuesday, the Pentagon said the exercise was aimed at reassuring friends and allies, not raising tensions with Iran.
The US Fifth Fleet, based in Bahrain, said two air wings from the aircraft carriers would conduct exercises while warships from the strike groups practice anti-submarine, anti-surface and mine warfare.
Iran controls traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, the passageway to more than 40 percent of the world's energy, and has threatened in the past to strangle the world's energy supply if pressured.
http://english.alalam.ir/en-NewsPage.asp?newsid=009030120070328211427
"Based on the IRGC observations in the region over recent days, the US forces have not staged any military exercise," said IRGC navy commander Rear Admiral Tangsiri while denying a US navy commander's claim that the US had launched an unusual and unprecedented wargame in Persian Gulf, involving 100 navy aircraft.
"Our navy forces, stationed in the Persian Gulf and Hormuz Strait, keep a close eye on the region and fully control any movement by foreign forces," added Tangsiri.
Also ruling out claims about Iran's missile test, Tangsiri said, "Americans want to tarnish the image of Iran in the region. Such statements are in line with the extensive psychological warfare launched by the US."
In this while, the United States on Wednesday denied that its naval exercises in the Gulf are meant to pressure Iran, and stressed US support for Britain as Tehran holds 15 of its naval personnel.
"These military exercises were long planned and so there is no escalation of tension on our part," spokeswoman Dana Perino said.
On Tuesday, the Pentagon said the exercise was aimed at reassuring friends and allies, not raising tensions with Iran.
The US Fifth Fleet, based in Bahrain, said two air wings from the aircraft carriers would conduct exercises while warships from the strike groups practice anti-submarine, anti-surface and mine warfare.
Iran controls traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, the passageway to more than 40 percent of the world's energy, and has threatened in the past to strangle the world's energy supply if pressured.
http://english.alalam.ir/en-NewsPage.asp?newsid=009030120070328211427