Iran’s Army Chief Says U.S. Military Presence Will Not Return to the Region
Iran’s Army Chief, General Aziz Nasirzadeh Hatami, has declared that the United States has been pushed out of the region and that Tehran will no longer accept a permanent U.S. military presence in the Gulf
Hatami said Washington would not be allowed to restore its previous military footprint in the region, including access to the Persian Gulf, the Gulf of Oman and the Strait of Hormuz.
“The United States has been removed from the region and will not be allowed to return to the Persian Gulf, the Gulf of Oman or the Strait of Hormuz. Everyone must understand that U.S. bases can never return to their previous status. Iran will never allow that to happen.”
His remarks signal Tehran’s determination to challenge the long-standing U.S. military presence across the Gulf and its strategic waterways, while emphasizing Iran’s intention to prevent Washington from rebuilding its former regional military infrastructure.
The statement comes amid heightened tensions between Iran and the United States, with control and security around the Strait of Hormuz remaining a major strategic issue for regional powers and global energy markets.