In an interview with Lebanon's al-Mayadeen television network published on Tuesday, Rear Admiral Alireza Tangsiri expressed concern over the growing ties between the Israeli regime and certain countries in the region.
The top IRGC commander emphasized that allowing this transgression to take place in such a vital region as the Persian Gulf is not in keeping with the spirit of good neighborliness and Muslim brotherhood and carries significant implications.
"Today, we are responsible for the security of this region, including the vital Strait of Hormuz, through which more than 85 oil tankers pass daily. We maintain the security of this region, but the presence of Zionists in our neighboring country is not in line with the principles of good neighborliness and Muslim brotherhood," he said.
The commander also reminded the United States that the Persian Gulf is not an "international sea" but rather belongs to Iran and other littoral states. "We don't have international waters here, we have international waterways."
"They (Americans) are present in our neighbor's waters, not in international waters. They do not even pass through the international waters that surround our islands, but we constantly monitor their activities," Tangsiri pointed out.
Asked about the Israeli missile attack on the Iranian consulate in Syria last week, the IRGC commander, while condemning the terrorist act, stressed that diplomatic missions are considered safe havens that should not be violated even in times of war.
"In that embassy, there were not only military advisors, but also women, children, and men," he said.
In response to the Israeli attack, which killed seven Iranian military advisors to Syria, Tangsiri affirmed that Iran expects the international community to address the issue decisively.
Echoing promises of retaliation by the Iranian leadership, the commander vowed that the Islamic Republic will "deliver a strong blow" to the Israeli regime at the appropriate time.
"But we do not act impulsively or hastily," he said.
4353**2050