Iran says US should recognise it as a 'big, regional power'
The US must recognise Iran as a “big, regional power,” the head of Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guards, General Yahya Rahim Safavi, said today.
Speaking on state television, Safavi said Iran could use the Straits of Hormuz to apply pressure on foreign powers. About two-fifths of the world’s oil supplies pass through the 34-mile wide entrance to the Gulf.
“The Straits of Hormuz are a point of control and economic pressure on the energy transfer route for those foreign powers that might want to undermine regional security,” Safavi said.
He spoke as the Iranian armed forces carried out a fourth day of manoeuvres in the straits. The US is a driving force behind the UN Security Council’s giving Iran 30 days from late last month to cease enrichment of uranium, a process that can produce fuel for nuclear reactors and material for nuclear bombs.
The increasing world pressure on Iran has led to speculation that the US might attack Iran and a series of belligerent statements from Iranian officials. Washington has said it has no plans to attack the country but it has not ruled out the use of force to resolve the dispute over Iran’s nuclear programme.
Safavi rejected US claims that Iran had exaggerated the capabilities of the locally produced missiles and torpedo that it unveiled at the weekend.
“They tried to say what is related to our equipment was just a bluff. But we announce that the advanced equipment were based on a real and domestic industry,” Savafi said.
He accused Washington of seeking “a weak and isolated Iran” and said that would never be realised.
“They have to recognise Iran as a big regional power,” Safavi added.
He reiterated that Iran could defend itself against any invasion and added: “I advise Americans not to move toward a military strike against Iran.”
The US and France accuse Iran of secretly seeking to build nuclear weapons. Iran denies the charge, saying its nuclear programme is intended only to produce electricity.
It has said it will not comply with the Security Council demand to stop enrichment, insisting that it needs the process to manufacture fuel for its nuclear reactor that comes on stream later this year.
