Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei on Monday warned the United States against keeping a military presence in the Persian Gulf and vowed that the Islamic Republic will continue to carry out a range of war drills in the area, despite warnings, according to recent comments.
Khamenei blasted the U.S. military presence in the Persian Gulf in wide-ranging remarks that ordered America to return its forces "back to the Bay of Pigs."
Khamanei also said that Iran has the military know-how to eradicate American forces from the region.
"Today, the enemies utter words bigger than their mouths; for instance they develop plans to bring to a halt Iran's military wargames in the Persian Gulf, what a foolish remark," Khamenei was quoted as saying on Monday, as Iran holds a series of war drills.
"The Persian Gulf is the Iranian nation's home and the Persian Gulf and a large section of the Sea of Oman belong to this powerful nation," the supreme leader added. "Therefore, we should be present in the region, hold wargames and display our power and it is the Americans who should say why they have come from that side of the world and stage drills in here. What are you doing here? Go back to the Bay of Pigs. Go and hold exercises there. What are you doing in the Persian Gulf? The Persian Gulf is our home."
Khamenei said Iran must respond to perceived provocations with military action.
"The excessive demands of the powers should be confronted this way," he was quoted as saying in the country’s state-controlled press.