Bab al-Mandab, Yemen
7 April 2023

The U.S. announced the deployment of a nuclear-powered guided-missile submarine to the Middle East “to help ensure regional maritime security and stability”, adding: “Recent events, including the strikes in Syria and public threats made by Iran against merchant vessels, prompted us to remind regional mariners to remain vigilant”. Iran’s diplomatic spokesperson reacted to the announcement by saying: “The U.S. regime has trodden a path against the will of regional nations by its frequent warmongering and spreading instability and division in the West Asia region. Washington would better be realistic and understand the realities and avoid attempting to interfere in West Asia region and the Persian Gulf, in the interest of the shaky Zionist regime [ie, Israel]”.

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