Press TV - The former head of Irans Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) has warnedthe United States against any military adventurism after a top US military commander threatened Tehran with military action.
Army General Joseph Votel, who heads the US Central Command, on Wednesday calledIran the greatest long-term threat to stability in the Middle East, saying the US should consider using military means against the country.
You should know that Iran is neither Iraq nor Afghanistan and anyadventurism will bring about regret for you," Mohsen Rezaeisaid on Monday in remarks addressed atVotel.
Rezaei commanded the IRGC for less than two decades and is currently the secretary of Irans Expediency Council, which advises Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei.
Votel,speaking before the House Armed Services Committee in Washington, accused Iran of destabilizing the region through lethal aid facilitation, using surrogate forces and cyber operations.
We need to look at opportunities where we can disrupt through military means or other means their activities, he said.
[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="555"]
Army Gen. Joseph L. Votel, commander of U.S. Central Command, testified on security challenges in the greater Middle East before the House Armed Services Committee in Washington, March 29, 2017.[/caption]Rezaei called the accusations "repetitive", saying "Iran's activities in the Persian Gulf and the region areaimed at maintaining security and peace."
"You had better stop the illegitimate interventionsof your allies in the region and prevent massacre of the people," the official added, apparently referringto Saudi Arabia which iswaging a destructivewar on Yemen.
Rezaei further cautioned US leaders against being tripped into a new confrontation in the Middle East.
Nor should you forget about Mr. Bushs warmongering adventure, he said, referring to former US President George W. Bush who waged two destructive wars against Iraq and Afghanistan.
The US and UK invaded Iraq in 2003 after the British Secret Intelligence Service alleged it had verified claims that the Arab country was in possession of weapons of mass destruction, which later proved to be a misguided assumption.
The war, meanwhile, developed into a quagmire that overall killed more than 100,000 Iraqi civilians, and brought about a chaotic situation which has beenexploited by extremist outfits such as Daeshto date.
The IRGCs Navy has on several occasions forced US Navy vessels to change course before wandering into Iranian territorial waters in the Persian Gulf. The Islamic Republic has repeatedly warned that any act of transgression into its territorial waters would be met with an immediate and befitting response.
