Iran poses no threat to its neighbors

TEHRAN - Deputy Chief of Staff of Iran's Armed Forces for Operational Affairs Brigadier General Mostafa Salami said Saturday that the Islamic Republic poses no threat to its neighbors, the English language satellite Press TV reported.

"Iran poses no threat to the regional countries but will firmly counter any threat," Salami said at the 10th meeting of Iran-Oman joint military committee in the Iranian capital of Tehran.

"Iran has strong relations with peace-loving nations who stick to ties based on justice," he said, adding that maintaining peace and friendship with neighbors and other countries constituted a major part of Iran's military doctrine.

He said that the enemies spread "Iranophobia" to justify continued foreign military presence in the region and to sell arms to regional countries, according to Press TV.

The Iranian military official criticized the presence of foreign forces in the region and said non-regional troops "will not only fail to contribute to the regional peace and security but also disturb them."

The Islamic republic believes that regional security can be provided only by regional countries, he added.

Describing the Strait of Hormuz as a vital global energy conduit, he said that providing security in the strategic waterway was a top priority of Iran's foreign policy. His country has always sought security and stability in the Persian Gulf, added the Iranian military commander.

Meanwhile, the commander said Iran and Oman enjoy good relations, calling for better military ties.

Iran and Omani military officials held talks Saturday on military cooperation during the 10th meeting of their joint military committee which was chaired jointly by Iranian Salami and his Omani counterpart Rashed Bin Seif Bin Al-Rashidi, the semi- official ISNA news agency reported.

The two sides are expected to discuss further ways to expand regional and cross-regional relations to improve mutual cooperation in different fields including protection of sea borders, said the report.

Iran and Oman have agreed to carry out joint drills every year.

In February 2011, Iran and Oman held second joint naval relief and rescue drill in the north of Omani Sultan Qaboos Port.

Four Omani vessels, two fighter planes and one coastal helicopter, as well as four Iranian surface vessels participated in the joint drill.

The naval drill aimed at enhancing readiness of relief services and rescue operations, and raising the level of regional cooperation and exchanging experience.

Iranian military commanders have repeatedly invited the littoral states of Persian Gulf for joint military drills, saying that the security of the gulf should be achieved through cooperation of the regional countries.

In April, Iranian senior military commanders said the Islamic republic opposes the presence of foreign forces in the Persian Gulf which undermines regional stability.

Speaking at a ceremony on the National Day of the Persian Gulf in Tehran, a deputy commander of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Navy, Rear Admiral Ali-Reza Tangsiri, said the Iranian forces were at the highest level of preparedness in the Persian Gulf.

This means there is no justification for the presence of outsiders in the area, said Tangsiri.

Meanwhile, deputy Head of the Armed Forces Joint Chiefs of Staff Brigadier General Masoud Jazayeri said the United States and its allies seek to promote division and discord among Iran and its neighboring states by causing a broad array of conspiracies.