Said Rear Admiral Mark Fox, commander of U.S. naval forces in the Gulf on Sunday that Iran has strengthened its navy in the Gulf and prepared the boat can be used in suicide attacks, but added that the U.S. Navy can prevent it from closing the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran and directed a series of threats in recent weeks to disrupt shipping in the Gulf or hitting U.S. forces in response if sanctions have to stop the trade in Iranian oil or if it was its disputed nuclear program to attack.
Said Fox, who leads the U.S. Fifth Fleet, told reporters at the base of the fleet in Bahrain, "We have increased the number of submarines .. and increased the number of fast-attack vessels.
"Been provided with some of those small boats with a huge war that could be used as cargo suicide bomb. Iranians have a huge stockpile of mines.
"And followed with interest to their development of ballistic missiles of short and medium-and long-term and of course .. the development of their nuclear program."
He added that Iran has now ten small submarines.
The U.S. Fifth Fleet patrols in the Gulf and has always been a giant aircraft carrier and at least one accompanied by dozens of aircraft and a fleet of frigates and destroyers. Military experts say that the Fifth Fleet significantly stronger than the Iranian navy.
But since suicide bombers killed belong to the base in a small boat 17 sailors were on board the U.S. destroyer Cole in Yemen, a port in 2000, Washington is concerned about the possibility of large warships was attacked by hostile small boats.
Fox was asked whether the U.S. Navy was ready to attack or other problems in the Gulf, said: "We are very careful, and put a wide range of options to give the president and we are ready .. and what if it happens tonight .. We are ready today."
Iranian officials have threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz, through which about half of all Middle East oil.
Asked Fox whether he would take Iran's threats seriously, he said, "Are They can make life difficult for us .. Yes they can. If we do not do anything and were able to work without a deterrent Yes they can close, but I do not expect to be in this situation at all."
He added that diplomacy must be given priority in resolving this tension.
He said, "So when you hear a discussion about all these frantic tone on the part of Iran, we believe the fact that the best way to deal with this is diplomatic .. I am absolutely convinced that this is the way we walk in it. Our mission to be ready. We were awake."
Fox added that the contacts between the U.S. Navy and Iranian ships in the Gulf routinely referring to cases where the sailors helped the Americans Iranian ships were in distress or the pirates threatening them.
In addition to the leadership of the Fifth Fleet, the Fox is the leader of the labor force multinational maritime charged with ensuring the survival of shipping routes in the Gulf open. Although most of the firepower of the force, it also includes the U.S. Western countries and the Arab Gulf States.
Of a rose is essential
Source: MANAMA (Reuters)
Iran and directed a series of threats in recent weeks to disrupt shipping in the Gulf or hitting U.S. forces in response if sanctions have to stop the trade in Iranian oil or if it was its disputed nuclear program to attack.
Said Fox, who leads the U.S. Fifth Fleet, told reporters at the base of the fleet in Bahrain, "We have increased the number of submarines .. and increased the number of fast-attack vessels.
"Been provided with some of those small boats with a huge war that could be used as cargo suicide bomb. Iranians have a huge stockpile of mines.
"And followed with interest to their development of ballistic missiles of short and medium-and long-term and of course .. the development of their nuclear program."
He added that Iran has now ten small submarines.
The U.S. Fifth Fleet patrols in the Gulf and has always been a giant aircraft carrier and at least one accompanied by dozens of aircraft and a fleet of frigates and destroyers. Military experts say that the Fifth Fleet significantly stronger than the Iranian navy.
But since suicide bombers killed belong to the base in a small boat 17 sailors were on board the U.S. destroyer Cole in Yemen, a port in 2000, Washington is concerned about the possibility of large warships was attacked by hostile small boats.
Fox was asked whether the U.S. Navy was ready to attack or other problems in the Gulf, said: "We are very careful, and put a wide range of options to give the president and we are ready .. and what if it happens tonight .. We are ready today."
Iranian officials have threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz, through which about half of all Middle East oil.
Asked Fox whether he would take Iran's threats seriously, he said, "Are They can make life difficult for us .. Yes they can. If we do not do anything and were able to work without a deterrent Yes they can close, but I do not expect to be in this situation at all."
He added that diplomacy must be given priority in resolving this tension.
He said, "So when you hear a discussion about all these frantic tone on the part of Iran, we believe the fact that the best way to deal with this is diplomatic .. I am absolutely convinced that this is the way we walk in it. Our mission to be ready. We were awake."
Fox added that the contacts between the U.S. Navy and Iranian ships in the Gulf routinely referring to cases where the sailors helped the Americans Iranian ships were in distress or the pirates threatening them.
In addition to the leadership of the Fifth Fleet, the Fox is the leader of the labor force multinational maritime charged with ensuring the survival of shipping routes in the Gulf open. Although most of the firepower of the force, it also includes the U.S. Western countries and the Arab Gulf States.
Of a rose is essential
Source: MANAMA (Reuters)
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