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Iran Holds Large-Scale Naval Exercises |
From
Stephen Lendman |
| ran is threatened by Israel and America’s regional military presence.
In areas around the Persian Gulf, it has bases in every country except
Iran - plus numerous others in North Africa and Central Asia. Its actions destabilized much of the Middle East. It supports the region’s worst despots. The late Chalmers Johnson said “the United States has been inexorably acquiring permanent military enclaves whose sole purpose appears to be the domination of one of the most strategically important areas of the world.” Since Jimmy Carter falsely claimed Soviet Russian forces in Afghanistan posed “a grave threat to the free movement of Middle East oil,” America spent trillions of dollars entrenching its military presence in the region. Carter said “an attempt by any outside force to gain control of the Persian Gulf region will be regarded as an assault on the vital interests of the United States of America,” adding “(s)uch an assault will be repelled by any means necessary, including military force.” As they say, the rest is history. Endless US direct and proxy wars raged since the 1980s, following its North Korean and Southeast Asian aggression, an unparalleled reign of terror. The business of America is endless wars of aggression, enemies created to wage them, all sovereign independent countries vulnerable. Iran’s military preparedness is vital to protect against possible US and/or Israeli attacks, the gravest threats to its security. Velayat 95 exercises began on Sunday, the final stage of large-scale drills, north of the Indian Ocean, Iranian naval commander Admiral Habibollah Sayyari, saying: “The aim of the Velayat 95 drill is to upgrade the country’s defensive capabilities and send Iran’s message of peace and friendship to the regional countries.” Exercises are ongoing over an area of about two million square km, spanning the Strait of Hormuz, the Sea of Oman, and the Babel-Mandeb Strait. It includes warships, submarines, helicopters and special forces, along with reconnaissance aircraft, drones and hovercraft. Various weapons and technological systems are being tested. Nothing ongoing violates international law or Tehran’s nuclear deal with P5 countries plus Germany. America appears undisturbed about its exercises. Fifth Fleet spokesman Cmdr. Kevin Stephens said they’ve had no effect on maritime traffic. They’re being monitored but pose no threat to US regional forces. The Pentagon is “not concerned about this exercise.” Iran’s Parliamentary Speaker Ali Larijani said “(w)ith attention to the situation in the region, we have noticeably expanded the defense budget of the armed forces to ensure the stable security of the region.” Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago. He can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net. His new book as editor and contributor is titled "Flashpoint in Ukraine: How the US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III." http://www.claritypress.com/LendmanIII.html Visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com. Listen to cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network. |