"The area of the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz is safe thanks to constant monitoring and control by the Iranian Navy, so the United States does not need to convoy their ships [there], while the Gulf of Aden and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait are not entirely safe, that's why Washington should protect its vessels there," Sayyari was quoted as saying by local media.
The Iranian Navy commander added that Iran's forces conducted regular exercises and were continually upgrading their military equipment in order to ensure the security of international marine traffic in their territorial waters.
On April 29, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said the seizure of the US ship by the IRGCN was not a result of a court order and was not politically motivated.
