“We once again warn that the US forces must alter their attitude”


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Iran’s military has issued one of its regular warnings to the US about operations in the Persian Gulf.

The deputy head of Iran’s armed forces, Brigadier General Massoud Jazayeri, responded on Saturday to US complaints of the “unprofessional behavior” of Iranian units harassing American naval vessels in the Gulf:

The US must more than ever monitor and control the conduct of its warships in the Persian Gulf.

We stress that the Americans are to blame for any disturbance in the Persian Gulf and for this reason we once again warn that the US forces must alter their attitude.

He insisted, “Reports released by American sources about unprofessional behavior by Iranian vessels are devoid of any truth….[They are] based on false information or pursue ulterior motives.”

The US military has issued several statements in recent months about “buzzing” of its ships by Iranian aircraft and menacing approaches by Tehran’s naval craft. On Tuesday, it said the aircraft carrier George H.W. Bush was “harassed” and “threatened” by more than 20 small Iranian vessels while passing through the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday.

A Revolutionary Guards commander justified the behavior earlier in the month, after a US ship and three British vessels changed course when confronted by several Iranian fast-attack boats.

Mehdi Hashemi, the commander of the Zolfaqar Flotilla, insisted that the US and British force was “unprofessionally” close to the Iranian navy near the Islamic Republic’s territorial waters.

TOP PHOTO: US military says aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush was “harassed” by Iranian craft on Tuesday


Iran Declares Sanctions on 15 US Companies

“In response to US policies”, Iran has imposed sanctions on 15 American companies.

The companies, including United Technologies and Raytheon, are accused of enabling Israel’s “atrocities” or supporting Israeli “terrorist actions or…expansion of settlements”.

The sanctions are largely symbolic, as US firms are already restricted by American law from business with Iran.