Iran warns regional states against foreign military presence

TEHRAN, May 1 (MNA) - Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ramin Mehmanparast has advised regional countries not to provide outsiders with opportunities to increase their military presence in the region. Mehmanparast made the remarks during his regular press briefing on Tuesday in reply to a question about the fact that U.S. most sophisticated stealth jet fighters, known as F-22 Raptors, have recently been deployed to Al Dhafra Air Base in the United Arab Emirates. “Such measures endanger the security of the region,” Mehmanparast said, advising regional countries to not provide a basis for the presence of extra-regional forces. “Any dependence on extra-regional countries, be it in terms of forces or equipment, runs counter to (efforts meant to) maintain regional security, and the presence of foreign forces could threaten security in the strategic Persian Gulf region,” he added. Mehmanparast also said, “If these countries care about their own defense prowess, we advise them to deploy their military equipment against the Zionist regime because they were supposed to stand up to acts of aggression by this occupying regime.” “We do not approve of the presence of foreign forces in the region and believe that their presence undermines regional security,” he stated. Iran calls on Persian Gulf Arab states to ‘indigenize’ security Mehmanparast also commented on the joint military exercises that Arab states of the Persian Gulf staged on April 29 and 30, saying, “If regional countries can indigenize… the security of the region in cooperation with other regional states, it can be positive.” However, no significant measure has been taken so far by certain regional countries in this regard, he stated. “What we are seeking is the maintenance of security in the region without the interference of foreign forces,” the Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman added.