SANAA, Nov. 13 (Saba) - Iran has confirmed its readiness to protect its oil tankers from any threats that impede its use of sea waterways, considering that the American threat in this regard is not new.
"Iranian armed forces are ready today, as in the past, to protect our fleet of oil tankers against any threats so that it can continue to use sea waterways," Iran's semi-official news agency ISNA quoted deputy chief of naval operations of the Iranian Army, Amir Mahmoud Mousavi, as saying.
"Despite the threats against us, we will trade in the seas without any problem," he said, adding that "any problem of transport and trade through international water is against international laws and norms" and "is unacceptable."
On the latest US threats against Iranian oil tankers in international waters, Mousavi said the statements of some US officials were "not new, and they are not effective."
Washington warned last week, by US special envoy Brian Hawke on Tehran to allow Iranian oil tankers to enter its ports or territorial waters.
"The provision of any services to Iranian shipping companies covered by sanctions would result in the imposition of sanctions by Washington," Bryan said in a statement.
"Iranian tankers have become a burden from the Suez Canal to the Strait of Malacca and all the checkpoints between them. The self-insured Iranian carriers have become dangerous to the ports that allow them to dock and the channels that allow them to pass."
Iranian media considered Hawk's statements "a threat to Iranian carriers carrying Iranian crude and other oil products."
Saba
"Iranian armed forces are ready today, as in the past, to protect our fleet of oil tankers against any threats so that it can continue to use sea waterways," Iran's semi-official news agency ISNA quoted deputy chief of naval operations of the Iranian Army, Amir Mahmoud Mousavi, as saying.
"Despite the threats against us, we will trade in the seas without any problem," he said, adding that "any problem of transport and trade through international water is against international laws and norms" and "is unacceptable."
On the latest US threats against Iranian oil tankers in international waters, Mousavi said the statements of some US officials were "not new, and they are not effective."
Washington warned last week, by US special envoy Brian Hawke on Tehran to allow Iranian oil tankers to enter its ports or territorial waters.
"The provision of any services to Iranian shipping companies covered by sanctions would result in the imposition of sanctions by Washington," Bryan said in a statement.
"Iranian tankers have become a burden from the Suez Canal to the Strait of Malacca and all the checkpoints between them. The self-insured Iranian carriers have become dangerous to the ports that allow them to dock and the channels that allow them to pass."
Iranian media considered Hawk's statements "a threat to Iranian carriers carrying Iranian crude and other oil products."
Saba