US Navy Says Iranian Warnings are Insignificant

United States Fifth Fleet, in a statement made to Asharq Al-Awsat, mentioned that the US navy leader and fifth fleet spokesman, Commander Kevin Stephens, had rendered the warnings issued by the Iranian navy insignificant.

The Iranian Army had issued a warning for a US warship and two fighters from drawing close to the “State 94” maneuvering area set by Iranian navy in the Arabian Sea zone.

Commander Stephens said that the maneuvers proclaimed by Iran are a mere routine military training led by the Iranian navy on an annual basis.The US navy is fully aware of the drills exercised by Iran. The naval exercises are not considered a recent change to Tehran’s regional tactic and behavior, nor are they a reason to raise concern.

Moreover, Iran had already announced zone closedown for bullet training, which is customary course training for all navy forces across the world. The US navy did not receive the warnings as directed orders.

Iranian Tasnim News Agency had broadcasted, citing an Iranian navy official spokesman that the operations were back to their standard track, after the US missile guided destroyer had drawn away from the zone.

Tasnim, an agency affiliated to the Army of the Guardians, had also, over the past two days, warned warships under the US-led coalition command from closing in towards the Arabian Sea maneuver area, before forcing them to leave.