Iran is directing more efforts to building up defence capability while getting itself fully ready to counter sanctions and pressure of the hostile forces.
Particular attention has been paid to enhancing the combat capacity of the naval forces in the Persian Gulf near the Strait of Hormuz.
According to information available, 20 to 30 percent of the world’s oil transportation by sea is made through the strait. For example, Japan brings in 80 percent of oil and 20 percent of natural gas it needs via the strait.
Recently the Iranian Islamic Revolution Guards Corps staged a large-scale military exercise in the waters of the Persian Gulf, involving about 100 navy vessels, many troops, air corps and missile and artillery companies.
Military experts commented that the exercise was mainly geared towards demonstrating its capability to blockade the strait, a major passage of the world’s energy supply.
Last year the US officially announced the resumption of anti-Iran sanctions according to its withdrawal from the Iranian nuclear deal and escalated the sanctions.
Early in November last year it released a statement that it would impose new sanctions on Iran.
The statement noted that they are targeting the major sectors of Iran including energy, maritime transport, shipbuilding and financial businesses, describing them as the “strictest ever and unprecedented”.
According to it, over 700 objects including leading banks, oil exporters, maritime transport companies, individuals, entities, vessels and airplanes will be put on the US sanctions list again.
Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei recently criticized the hostile forces for making bluffs and telling lies, calling on the Iranian people to turn out for making the US sanctions an unprecedented defeat of the Devil.
The US plans to fuel the anti-Iran atmosphere by holding an international meeting against the country in the capital of Poland on February 13-14.
As a reaction against it, Iran expressed its stand to strengthen cooperation with India, China and Russia.
The international community also voices increasing opposition to the US sanctions.
Even Western countries like France, Germany and the UK, as well as Russia and Turkey, described them as unjust, making it clear that they would take every necessary measure to maintain and expand trade, economic and financial cooperation with Iran.
Iran is firmly defending its sovereignty and dignity in the face of extreme sanctions and pressure.
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