Iranian army commander Amir Hatami has urged countries across the region to reconsider their relationship with the United States, arguing that Washington’s involvement has not delivered the security being sought.
Hatami made the remarks while addressing Iran’s armed forces, where he also spoke about the Strait of Hormuz and Tehran’s position on the security situation in the region.
According to the commander, Iran would not permit its strategic waterways to be used in a way that threatens the country or its interests.
“The Strait of Hormuz is the strait of our honour, and we will not allow the enemies of the country to use this great logistical bottleneck,” Amir Hatami told an armed forces gathering.
Hatami said instability would not affect Iran alone, arguing that other countries operating in the region would also face consequences if insecurity continued.
“We have said this many times that if the region is to be insecure, it is insecurity for everyone … If Iran can’t do business and if Iran can’t live, no one can trade and live,” state media quoted him as saying.
He subsequently turned his attention to Iran’s neighbours, telling them to consider what cooperation with Washington had achieved in terms of regional stability.
“I call on all neighbours and countries in the region: you saw that cooperation with the United States does not create security … Security in the region will not happen except with the removal of the United States and the Zionist regime – and this is not far away.”
The remarks were made against the backdrop of tensions surrounding the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s major routes for energy shipments.