Iran: U.S. is fighting a 'psychological war' in the Gulf
Tehran claims the U.S. presents Iran as a threat to Arab states so they will seek U.S. protection.
By Reuters Tags: Israel news Iran nuclearIran accused the United States on Thursday of launching a "psychological war" in the Gulf region by presenting Tehran as a threat to Gulf Arab states to convince them they needed U.S. protection.
U.S. officials said on Sunday the United States had expanded land-and sea-based missile defense systems in and around the Gulf - a waterway crucial for global oil supplies - to counter what it sees as Iran's growing missile threat.
The U.S. deployments include expanded land-based Patriot defensive missile installations in Kuwait, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain.
"They don't want to see good and growing relations between Iran and its neighbors in the Persian Gulf and thus started a psychological war," Major General Hassan Firouzabadi, the chief of staff of Iran's armed forces, was quoted as saying on semi-official news agency ILNA.
Iran's top military official also played down the threat to the Islamic republic from Patriot missiles. "It is not new for us ... we were informed when they were installed, including about their exact locations ... Patriot missile could be easily deactivated by using simple tactics."
A foreign ministry official said earlier this week Washington was trying to stoke "Iran phobia" in the Middle East and said Tehran enjoyed friendly ties with neighboring states.
The United States is making the deployments at a time of tension in a long-running international row over Iran's nuclear energy program, with Western powers calling for a fourth round of U.N. sanctions against Tehran for refusing to halt uranium enrichment.
Analysts speculate that the United States or Israel, could stage an attack on nuclear facilities they think could allow Tehran to acquire nuclear weapons. Iran says it is only interested in generating electricity.
Gulf countries, which have extensive cooperation with the U.S. military, could be targets for reprisals if their territories were perceived as involved in operations.
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I call it the Gulf since it has an Arab side and an Iranian (or Persian) side. But feel free to call it what you like. I noticed that you did not manage to contradict anything that I wrote about the Iranian Revolutionary Guards. If the Gulf Arabs are such good friends of your Satanic Republic of Iran as you claim why did they accept the American missile defenses? Enjoy your mullahs while you have them because you will not have them much longer: Free Iran, Democracy NOW!!! The blood of the martyrs will not be forgotten.
The Regime seems to be confused. They only know how to execute the opposition. They are despotic theocratic thuggish fiddlers worth nothing. Ask the families of those that have been murdered tortured and victimized. The people of Iran will arise. For they seek FREEDOM- Good night.
which even more dangerous because of its ideology.
Consider this. Syria, Turkey, Egypt, Lebanon, Jordan and Iraq are sharing intel with the U.S. Iran is aiding the U.S. in Afghanistan and Kurdish Iraq. Maybe our warships, satellite surveilance, and missiles are intended to prevent "preventive/preemptive/existential" attacks? That makes sense. President Obama doesn't need any "regrettabe errors"(USS VINCENNES, USS SIDES, IRAN AIRLINES) that would exacerbate an already damaged world economy. Besides, Russia and China are also involved in the peace keeping. Our natural interests and allies are in Latin America and Africa. Salaam/Shalom
geographically illiterates. Just take a look at the official maps, not those printed by the Sauids, and you'll know. Also let me remind you that a the Amir of Qatar was in Tehran a couple of days ago, Dubai has daily flights to many Iranian cities and Bahrain and Kuwait have very normal, profitable and deep relationships with Iran. Only the Saudis and Israel cannot stand that, but then what those two think. I wonder on what basis you call your self a "realist"!
US is preparing the scneario to an attack on Iran illegal nuclear weapows program. A threat to world stability.
The Iranian dictatorship has repeatedly THREATENED to attack the Gulf and cut off oil supplies to the rest of the world. These threats have been backed up by aggressive military manoeuvres, kidnappings of foreign sailors and frequent announcements claiming to have developed new and more powerful missiles. Now that they have succeeded in provoking an American reaction, it is a little too late for the Revolutionary Guards to start denying hostile intentions towards the Gulf.
Basically Firouzabadi is saying that the Gulf States are all a bunch of deluded chicken littles. No wonder the Emiraties have such contempt for the Islamic Republic.