TEHRAN, Dec. 30 -- "The United States is only fueling insecurity in the Gulf through its presence in the strategic region," said Chairman of the Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Mohammad Baqeri on Sunday.
"The Americans have always sowed insecurity wherever they had a presence," Baqeri told reporters in the southern Iranian port city of Bandar Abbas, according to Press TV.
He emphasized that the Gulf countries are capable of ensuring security on their own and the U.S. presence in the region has only created insecurity.
On Saturday, Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said that the U.S. military presence in the Gulf is "illegal" and would create tension in the region.
Recent deployment of a U.S. aircraft carrier to the Gulf would also add to the tensions, Zarif said.
The U.S. aircraft carrier, the John C. Stennis, arrived in the oil-rich region on Dec. 21 following the return of U.S. sanctions on Iran's oil exports in November.
The U.S. withdrew from the Iran nuclear deal in May.
Beijing open for 'equal' dialogues with Taipei
Bun chain steamed in brand kerfuffle
Gaokao gets accepted by overseas universities
Crucial Snowden questions loom large over Pulitzers
Lanzhou admits to problems in water supply
Suspect claims he killed 40 as hitman for drug cartel
PBOC to regulate online finance
Families urge expanded search for missing flight as their hopes fade
Policeman gets death sentence for shooting
UK education officials seek math-teaching tips in Shanghai
Use of the death penalty set to be reduced
Police bust massive e-trash smuggling ring
Deadly camel virus may jump to human beings, study shows
Yanukovych allegedly sighted in Moscow
Shanghai looks set for mini baby boom
Beijing calls for dialogue on Ukraine
Guizhou aims to become big data hub
Shanghai to launch mediation system for medical disputes
US opens expanded consulate facility in booming Guangzhou
Iraqi PM rebukes 2 Sunni Arab states
Shanghai expands garbage sorting plan
Malaysia asks help on passengers' info
Wuhan school puts distance between students and myopia
Country's rich sending children abroad
Private cars remain popular in Beijing despite heavy smog
NYPD disbands Muslim-tracking unit amid concerns
US secretly fed political satire to Cuba in social media
European universities growing in popularity among students
Great Wall graffiti gets free hand
Agassi in no hurry to be a coach