Iranian President: 'America is undermining Middle East security'

President Raisi criticized the US deployment of troops in the Middle East, saying they "undermine the security of the region".

"The presence of American forces in our region has no justification," Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi said at an event in Tehran today.

Mr. Raisi emphasized that the presence of US troops in Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan and other countries does not bring security, but "undermines regional security." The President also accused the US of creating anti-Iranian and anti-Muslim sentiment.

Mr. Raisi's comments came as US Secretary of State Antony Blinken traveled to the Middle East to negotiate a ceasefire between Israel and the Hamas militant group.

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi attends a cabinet meeting in Tehran in October 2023. Photo: AFP

Regional tensions have escalated since the Israel-Hamas conflict erupted in early October last year, drawing in pro-Iranian groups in Syria, Lebanon, Iraq and Yemen. Dozens of rocket and drone attacks have targeted US troops in the region.

US and British forces have carried out strikes in response to Iran-backed Houthi forces in Yemen, which have repeatedly attacked shipping in the Red Sea. US forces have also struck pro-Iran militias in Iraq and Syria, drawing criticism from Tehran.

On January 28, three US soldiers were killed and 34 others were injured in a drone attack on a base in northeastern Jordan, near the border with Syria. The US military responded on February 2 by launching airstrikes against Iranian targets and Tehran-backed militia groups in Iraq and Syria.

"The US has once again committed a strategic mistake and carried out an adventurous act, increasing tension and instability in the region," Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani said on February 3.

US military infrastructure in the Middle East. Graphic: American Security Project

The United States and Iran severed diplomatic relations in 1980 during the hostage crisis that began in November 1979, when Iranian students seized the U.S. Embassy in Tehran. Fifty-two American diplomats were held hostage for 444 days before being released in January 1981.

Tensions between the two sides escalated after former President Donald Trump announced in 2018 that he was withdrawing from the nuclear deal and imposing numerous sanctions on the Middle Eastern country. About 45,000 US troops are stationed in the region.

Thanh Tam (According to AFP )

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