Iran says could deploy navy near U.S. coast: report

September 28, 2011

By Hashem Kalantari | Reuters – 11 hours ago

TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iran raised the prospect on Tuesday of sending military ships

close to the United States' Atlantic coast, in what would be a major escalation

of tensions between the long-standing adversaries.

" Like the arrogant powers that are present near our marine borders, we will also

have a powerful presence close to American marine borders, " the head of the

Navy, Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari said, according to the official IRNA news

agency.

Speaking at a ceremony marking the 31st anniversary of the start of the

1980-1988 war with Iraq, Sayyari gave no details of when such a deployment could

happen or the number or type of vessels to be used.

The declaration comes just weeks after Turkey said it would host a NATO early

warning radar system which will help spot missile threats from outside Europe,

including potentially from Iran. The decision has angered Tehran which had

enjoyed close relations with Ankara.

And it comes a few months after Iran sent warships through the Suez canal, after

the fall of former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, the first time the Islamic

Republic had deployed navy vessels in the Mediterranean.

The United States and Israel have not ruled out military action against Iran if

diplomacy fails to stop it getting nuclear weapons. Tehran denies it is

developing nuclear arms saying its atomic program is for purely peaceful

purposes.

Iran has dismissed the threats, warning that it will respond by hitting U.S.

interests in the Gulf and Israel if any such attack happened.

Analysts say Tehran could retaliate by launching hit-and-run strikes in the Gulf

and by closing the Strait of Hormuz, the waterway where about 40 percent of all

traded oil passes.

The Islamic state often launches military drills in the country to display its

military capabilities amid persistent speculation about a possible U.S. or

Israeli strike on Iran's nuclear facilities.

(Writing by Hashem Kalantari; Editing by lind )

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