( IRNA ) - Iran's Defense Minister Mostafa Mohammad-Najjar said here Thursday that security of the Persian Gulf, as a strategic waterway, should be established by its littoral states.
Mohammad-Najjar made the statement while speaking to reporters in the southern city of Bushehr.
"Foreign forces should leave the Persian Gulf. Security of this waterway should be established jointly in cooperation with its littoral countries," he said.
He added, "Over the past 28 years (after victory of the Islamic Revolution), the Islamic Republic of Iran has always advocated peace and moved in a direction to remove tension from the Persian Gulf region.
"So, all problems of the region originate from presence of foreign forces."
"If alien forces withdraw from the region, countries will be able to have a peaceful coexistence and establish security of the Persian Gulf," the minister said.
He stressed, "Armed forces of Iran have currently the highest level of air, ground and sea strength and readiness. They wisely watch moves by foreign forces."
" Iran carries the message of peace and friendship for neighboring states in the Persian Gulf. We are interested in peaceful
coexistence with Muslim neighbors."
He added, "All Iran's modern and advanced weapons are for preserving peace, stability and tranquility in the Persian Gulf region. Iran will not use the weapons against neighboring states." The minister stated that enemies strive to introduce Iran as a threat to neighboring countries through their propaganda and psychological warfare, adding, "They make unfounded allegations against the Islamic Republic of Iran."
"This is while Iran's performance over the past 28 years showed the country has been after nothing but amity and peace."
He expressed Iran's readiness to stage joint maneuvers with regional countries.
" Iran currently follows an active diplomacy of high level interaction, detente, convergence and friendship with regional countries as its serious defense strategy," the minister stated.