The US military and its allies have began enhanced maritime security patrols in the international waters of the Persian Gulf.
US warships have carried out exercises in the Arabian Sea as part of efforts to build up preparedness for what Washington calls an Iranian threat.
The navies and coast guards of the Arab states from Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE has its headquarters in Riyadh.
Tensions have been high in the Persian Gulf recently as the USA has deployed an aircraft carrier group and sent B-52 bombers on patrol there in a move to intimidate Iran. The drills included air-to-air training, steaming in formation and maneuvering.
The US regime keeps assuring that its military build-up is not a sign of war preparation. Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister, Adel al-Jubeir, has said that the Kingdom did not want a military conflict, but was eager to defend itself from Iran.
Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said that there will be no war in the Gulf, but added that Tehran also won’t get involved in negotiating a new nuclear deal with Washington.
The Trump administration has been pressuring Iran in order to sign a border agreement that would include not only its nuclear program but ballistic missile developments as well.
Also taking part in exercises were the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit and Amphibious Squadron Six, both deployed to and operating under the US Navy’s Bahrain-based 5th Fleet, which is currently deployed in the Persian Gulf.
Against the backdrop of tensions with the USA, Iran was accused of being behind two notorious incidents in the region.
A Saudi prince claimed that Tehran had ordered a recent attack on the kingdom’s oil facilities, which was allegedly carried out by Yemeni Houthi rebels.
US officials blamed the explosions, which caused no injuries or casualties but dealt significant damage to the tankers’ structure, on “Iranian or Iranian-backed proxies”.
Meanwhile, commenting on the situation in the Persian Gulf earlier in the month Iranian Navy Commander Rear Adm. Hossein Khanadi said that the USA must leave the region.
“The presence of the Americans in the Persian Gulf region has reached its end and they must leave the region,” Khanadi said as quoted by the ISNA News Agency.
Sputnik / ABC Flash Point WW III News 2019.
Chemical Warfare again?
All the time?
Lets go and kill some more Muslims?
Yep, killing trophies waiting @ home for the ones that assassinated the most Arabs?