Iran has full control over Strait Of Hormuz: Iranian admiral
The commander of the Iranian Navy dismissed the US plan to stage a minesweeping exercise in the region, saying that Iran has full control over the Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf region, Iran's Mehr News Agency (MNA) reported.
The Pentagon has recently announced that the US will conduct an anti-mining naval exercise in the Middle East in September amid concerns that Iran may block key oil transport routes with underwater mines.
"The US assumes that it can affect Iran through its intention to hold a minesweeping exercise in the Persian Gulf, but that is not the fact.
"The (control) of the Strait of Hormuz and the region is in Iran's hands," Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari said in an interview with the Iranian Majlis'(parliament) website published on Monday.
"The decisions, moves, and military exercises of Washington have no effect on the Islamic Republic of Iran," he said, adding that Iran is the main country that is protecting the security of the Persian Gulf region.
Sayyari also said that the Persian Gulf Arab states should be aware that they cannot gain power through "joining hands with the global arrogance (forces of imperialism)."