Tasnim � Commander of the Iranian Navy Rear Admiral Hossein Khanzadi described the US military presence in the Persian Gulf as �theatrical� and said its warships have no positive effect on the security of the region.

The Iran-controlled waters of the region are completely secure and following the 1979 Islamic Revolution, the country�s power has been consolidated and there has been no insecurity in these seas, Khanzadi told Tasnim in the southern port city of Bandar Abbas.

�The forces of other countries that are present in the region are just trying to secure their illegitimate interests,� he said, adding, ��their presence and moves in these seas are theatrical and deceptive and they claim that the region is insecure while we are witnessing no insecurity in the region.�

�As soon as they enter the region, they bring insecurity with themselves,� the commander went on to say.

He added that the Americans, with their presence, suggest that Iran�s growing power is a threat to other countries, and intimidate some cowards in the region as they seek to plunder regional assets.

Iran has frequently criticized the presence of foreign forces in the Persian Gulf, stressing that it disrupts security in the region and that only regional states are responsible for safeguarding the security in the body of water.

In remarks in 2016, Ayatollah Khamenei underlined that the security of the Persian Gulf region comes within the purview of the regional countries alone.

�The Persian Gulf security relates to the countries of the region which have common interests, and not to the US. So, the security of the Persian Gulf region should be provided by the countries of this region itself,� the Leader said.