The Iranian Revolutionary Guards Commander Hussein Salami said that Iran will destroy American warships if its security is threatened in the Gulf, and the Iranian Foreign Ministry said it had summoned the Swiss ambassador in Tehran - as a sponsor of American interests - and delivered a protest letter, in response to the recent events in the Gulf waters.
Salami said - in an interview with official Iranian television yesterday - that any threat to the security of his country and its national interests in the Gulf waters "will be met by a direct and decisive response," saying that Iran issued orders to its forces to target any American naval vessels targeting its warships or civil ships, explaining that security and stability Gulf waters "is part of Iran's national security and within its defense doctrine of its interests."
On what happened between the IRGC boats and the American ship, Salamy said that it was caused by the aggressive, unprofessional American behavior, according to him.
It should pay attention to Corona
, and simultaneously , Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi said on Thursday that Tehran condemns the threats of the US President and recommends that the US administration use its armed forces to confront the Corona virus in the United States, instead of the rest of the countries.
Mousavi added that there is no international resolution preventing Iran from launching a satellite into space.
In turn, Iranian Defense Minister Major General Amir Hatami said that the Iranian armed forces are ready to face any threat to Iranian territory in the future.
In the context, Iranian National Security Council Secretary Ali Shamkhani said that sanctions, threats and political greed cannot stop the Iranian movement to ensure its national interests.
| Iranian navy ships in Gulf waters (Iranian press) |
Warning of Iranian surprises
Shamkhani added in a tweet to him, commenting on the Revolutionary Guards ’success in launching a satellite, that Iran will continue to increase its capabilities from building hospitals to developing its space industry, and said that the future will witness other surprises.
In another tweet, the Secretary of the Iranian National Security Council commended the Iranian Revolutionary Guards for launching the "Noor 1" satellite, indicating that it had scored a proud success with its launch.
The comments by Iranian officials came a day after US President Donald Trump warned Iran against "harassing" US ships.
Trump said on Wednesday that he had ordered the U.S. Navy to shoot any Iranian ships harassed at sea, but later said he did not change the rules of military engagement.
The rules of engagement
However, US Defense Secretary Mark Esber said yesterday that the rules of engagement in the Gulf region had been changed under Trump's orders.
He added in an interview with Fox News that the United States will not bear any actions from Iran that threaten its warships, and urged the Iranians to stay away from American ships wherever they are and to act professionally, as he put it.
He added that they have been working on this issue since the Iranian actions several days ago, which were "characterized by provocation and lack of professionalism," noting that the message should be sent clearly to the Iranians that if they threaten American warships, it is the right of the American military leaders to defend themselves.
He also said that they will implement this right, and that the Iranians must be mindful of their behavior and must act professionally.
For his part, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said that every country has the right to resort to the Security Council, stressing that Iran must bear responsibility for its actions, due to the launch of a missile branded by the American administration as a terrorist satellite.