Iran Vows Retaliation Against US Hostile Sea Actions
TEHRAN (FNA)- Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Nasser Kana'ani denounced the US move to confiscate the country's oil cargo on a tanker at sea, and underlined that Tehran would respond in kind to any hostile move by Washington.
A maritime security firm had announced that the US has recently confiscated Iranian oil on a tanker at sea. Days later, Iran seized another oil-laden tanker in retaliation, the latest escalation between Washington and Tehran.
Speaking about Iran’s tit-for-tat move to confiscate a US oil tanker in response to the seizure by American forces of an Iranian oil cargo, Kana'ani told reporters on Monday that Tehran will not hesitate to take all necessary measures to defend its national interests and the rights of its citizens.
"Iran has proved that its hands are not tied up if its national interests are threatened," the senior official underscored.
The spokesperson also spoke about Iran’s lawsuit against the US at the International Court of Justice over the freezing of Iranian assets by Washington.
He said any negotiations with the US will be within the framework of the ruling of the ICJ, adding as per the ruling of the court, the verdict must be honored within 23 months.
Kana'ani noted given that the US has been convicted by the international body, Iran insists that the ruling be honored in as short a time as possible.
On Thursday, the Iranian Navy announced that it has seized a Marshall Islands-flagged oil tanker in the Sea of Oman and directed it toward the country's territorial waters after the ship hit an Iranian vessel and tried to flee in violation of maritime regulations.
According to the public relations department of the Islamic Republic of Iran Army, the foreign vessel collided with an Iranian fishing craft in the Persian Gulf late on Wednesday. A number of crew members of the Iranian ship sustained injuries as a result of the impact, and two are still missing.
Iran says the US is the primary source of insecurity in West Asia and Washington remains responsible for the instability in the region as long as its wrong and crisis-making policies are not rectified.
Iranian military officials say the Iranian Army and the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Navies have brought stability and safety to the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman. The Iranian naval forces have succeeded in escorting and protecting almost 5,000 oil tankers and commercial ships in international waters since 2008, according to Iranian officials.
They have declared the Iranian naval forces' full preparedness to fight off any plot of enemies against Tehran at its birth, stressing that the country's armed forces will teach a painful lesson to foes in case they launch any act of aggression against the country.
Military officials have warned that any mistake by the US and Israel will be met with Tehran's tough and harsh response. Iranian officials say Washington and Tel Aviv are well aware of Tehran’s capabilities and capacities, and caution that Tehran does not compromise or joke with its national security. They stress the Iranian Armed Forces’ deterrent power dissuades the United States and Israel from implementing its threats against the country.
Tehran has repeatedly cautioned that any plan aimed at increasing US presence in the Middle East will only foment insecurity and instability and spread terrorism, urging the neighboring countries to be extremely vigilant about any US-Israeli plan that clearly aims to disturb the stability and order of the region. Iran has repeatedly stated that the US should end its illegal presence and withdraw its forces from the region with no delay.