AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE,
Tehran: The head of Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards said Wednesday the United States must accept the Islamic Republic as a regional power which cannot be left isolated. Attending the naval war games in the Gulf, General Yahya Rahim Safavi said on state television: “America must take the wish of isolating Iran to the grave”.
Iran has been showing off its “homegrown” military achievements such as radar-evading and anti-ship missiles — which the United States regards as proof of Tehran's willingness to risk international isolation in pursuit of its nuclear ambitions.
Dismissing “propaganda” that Iran might have overstated its military prowess, Safavi insisted “our equipment is advanced, domestic and real”.
The powerful commander called on the US forces to leave the region as “their presence in the Persian Gulf is a threat to us”.
Thousands of Iranian troops are conducting the war games, which involve the Revolutionary Guards Corps navy and air force, Iran's regular army and navy, the volunteer Basij militia, and the Iranian police.
They kicked off last Friday and are due to run until Thursday.
