Iran 'closely' watching US forces in Persian Gulf

TEHRAN - A commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) said Wednesday the IRGC's navy forces are closely and seriously watching every move made by the US forces in the Persian Gulf, the official IRNA news agency reported.

IRGC Navy Commander Rear Admiral Ali Fadavi said vessels of the IRGC navy are patrolling around the US warships present in the Persian Gulf waters, according to IRNA.

Fadavi said should the US attempt the folly of staging an act of aggression in the Persian Gulf, such military action will cost the lives of all the American forces engaged, Press TV reported Wednesday.

He added that in the event of such incursion, US commander should expect the Islamic republic's crushing response and know that they should not await a favorable outcome, according to the report.

"Should a bullet fly in the Persian Gulf, it will definitely be the detriment of the US and its allies," Fadavi was quoted as saying.

He said that the presence of US forces in the Persian Gulf is considered as a threat to Iran, the semi-official ISNA news agency reported Wednesday.

The United States and dozens of other countries will hold a largest-scale mine-sweeping exercise on September 16-27 in the Persian Gulf, in a show of unity and a defensive step to prevent Iran from attempting to block oil exports through the Strait of Hormuz.

Under Western sanction pressures on Iran's oil exports, a number of Iranian commanders have threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz and to block the flow of oil through this international waterway.