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Agence France-Presse

President Hassan Rowhani on Sunday denounced the presence of foreign forces in the Gulf and said Iran would proffer a peace plan, after arch-foe the United States ordered reinforcements to the tinderbox region.
“Foreign forces can cause problems and insecurity for our people and for our region,” Rowhani said in a televised speech at an annual military parade.
Rowhani also said Iran would present a peace plan to the United Nations in the coming days.
“In this sensitive and important historical moment, we announce to our neighbours that we extend the hand of friendship and brotherhood to them,” he said.

Tensions between Iran and the US and its allies have threatened to boil over since May last year when US President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew from a 2015 nuclear deal and later began reimposing sanctions in a campaign of “maximum pressure”.
The tensions escalated in the wake of devastating September 14 attacks on Saudi oil installations that Washington and Riyadh have, to varying degrees, blamed on Tehran.
How did attack breach Saudi Arabia’s state-of-the-art missile defences?
Following the attacks, which caused global oil prices to spike, Trump initially raised the possibility of military retaliation, tweeting that the United States was “locked and loaded”.
The United States later expanded its long list of sanctions against Iran by further targeting its central bank, as Trump indicated he did not plan a military response.
US Defence Secretary Mark Esper announced on Friday that the US was sending reinforcements to Saudi Arabia at “the kingdom’s request”, while noting the forces would be “defensive in nature” and focused on air and missile defence.

In his speech delivered before a massive military parade on Sunday, Rowhani called on the foreign powers in the Gulf region to “stay away”.
“If they’re sincere, then they should not make our region the site of an arms race,” he said.
Following his speech, the Iranian armed forces paraded their latest equipment, including tanks, missiles and armoured vehicles as Rowhani and top military commanders saluted them.
Amid the fanfare, Iran displayed the Khordad-3 air defence system that shot down a US drone in June.
Rowhani was expected to travel to New York on Monday, a day before general debate kicks off at the United Nations General Assembly.
China, Russia, Iran ‘plan joint naval drill in international waters’
Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, who is subject to US sanctions, has already arrived in New York ahead of the annual gathering.
Tensions have flared in the Gulf since May, when Iran began reducing its commitments to the nuclear deal and the US said it was sending forces to waters near the Islamic republic in response to “indications of a credible threat” from its forces.
The US deployed an aircraft carrier strike group and a bomber task force to the sensitive waterways, before sending B-52 bombers, an amphibious assault ship and Patriot missile battery.
Following the deployments, commercial ships were mysteriously attacked, drones downed and oil tankers seized in Gulf waters.

Trump in June authorised a military strike after Iran shot down a US drone, only to call off the retaliation at the last moment.
The regional crisis deepened with September 14 attacks on Saudi energy giant Aramco’s Abqaiq processing plant and Khurais oilfield, which halved the kingdom’s oil output.
Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels claimed responsibility, but the US says it has concluded the attacks involved cruise missiles from Iran and amounted to “an act of war”.
Saudi Arabia has warned of “appropriate measures” once the source of the strikes on its oil facilities is confirmed by a UN investigation it has sought.
Additional reporting by Reuters


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Iran

‘Stay away’: Iran president’s warning as US sends more troops

Iranian Revolutionary Guard troops attend a military parade marking 39th anniversary of outset of Iran-Iraq war, outside Tehran. Photo: AP

Missiles are displayed by Iran's army during the ceremony of the National Army Day parade in Tehran, Iran September 22, 2019. Nazanin Tabatabaee/ WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY

epa07860425 A handout photo made available by the Iranian presidential office shows Iranian President Hassan Rouhani (L) delivering his speech during the annual military parade marking the Iraqi invasion in 1980, which led to an eight-year-long war (1980-1988 in Tehran, Iran, 22 September 2019. Media reported that Rouhani said that he would present a cooperation plan for peace in the region during the UN summit in New York. EPA-EFE/Iranian President Office HANDOUT HANDOUT EDITORIAL USE ONLY/NO SALES HANDOUT EDITORIAL USE ONLY/NO SALES

During a trip organized by Saudi information ministry, workers fix the damage in Aramco's oil separator at processing facility after the recent Sept. 14 attack in Abqaiq, near Dammam in the Kingdom's Eastern Province, Friday, Sept. 20, 2019. Saudi Arabia allowed journalists access Friday to the site of a missile-and-drone attack on a facility at the heart of the kingdom's oil industry, an assault that disrupted global energy supplies and further raised tensions between the U.S. and Iran. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil)

How did attack breach Saudi Arabia’s state-of-the-art missile defences?

A Saudi military officer walks next to what was described as a misfired Iranian cruise missile used in an attack this weekend. Photo: AP

18 September 2019, Saudi Arabia, Riyadh: The remains of the missiles allegedly used in the attack against Aramco oil facility, displyed during by Saudi Colonel Turki al-Malki (Not Pictured), the spokesman for the Saudi-led coalition fighting in Yemen, during a press conference. attacks over the weekend on it oil facilities did not originate from Yemen and were "unquestionably sponsored by Iran, Turki said. Photo: -/Saudi Press Agency/dpa

Saudi Colonel Turki bin Saleh al-Malki speaks during a press conference in Riyadh on September 18, 2019, following the weekend attacks on Saudi Aramco's facilities in Abqaiq and Khurais. - Saudi Arabia said that strikes on its oil infrastructure came from the "north" and were sponsored by Iran, but that the kingdom was still investigating the exact launch site. (Photo by Fayez Nureldine / AFP)

TOPSHOT - A picture taken on September 18, 2019 shows displayed fragments of what the Saudi defence ministry spokesman said were Iranian cruise missiles and drones recovered from the attack site that targeted Saudi Aramco's facilities, during a press conference in Riyadh. - Saudi Arabia said that strikes on its oil infrastructure came from the "north" and were sponsored by Iran, but that the kingdom was still investigating the exact launch site. (Photo by Fayez Nureldine / AFP)

18 September 2019, Saudi Arabia, Riyadh: Saudi Colonel Turki al-Malki, the spokesman for the Saudi-led coalition fighting in Yemen, display the remains of the missiles allegedly used in the attack against Aramco oil facility, during a press conference. attacks over the weekend on it oil facilities did not originate from Yemen and were "unquestionably sponsored by Iran, Turki said. Photo: -/Saudi Press Agency/dpa

China, Russia, Iran ‘plan joint naval drill in international waters’

An Iranian news source says China, Russia and Iran are planning a joint naval exercise soon. Photo: Xinhua

Fires burn in the distance after a drone strike by Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi group on Saudi company Aramco's oil processing facilities, in Buqayq, Saudi Arabia September 14, 2019 in this still image taken from a social media video obtained by REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. MANDATORY CREDIT. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES.

News

World

Middle East


Iran’s president said the presence of foreign forces in the region would create insecurity for oil and shipping



Iran’s president said his country should lead regional security in the strategic Persian Gulf and criticised the presence of foreign forces.


Saudi Arabia

War and conflict

‘Stay away’: Iran president’s warning as US sends more troops

.css-1mniedq{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;} Iran’s president said the presence of foreign forces in the region would create insecurity for oil and shipping

Iran’s president said the presence of foreign forces in the region would create insecurity for oil and shipping