Iran wants to restrict US influence in Middle East, proposes coalition formation

Iran believes the United States’ influence on the Middle East must be blocked as it is resulting in crises in the region.

Iranian defence minister Brigadier General Hossein Dehqan made the claims during a meeting with Admiral Sun Jianguo, the deputy chief of the People's Liberation Army General Staff Department in China. Dehqan proposed forming a coalition to restrict the U.S' influence on the Middle East.

“The US interfered in Iraq and Afghanistan, it occupied these two countries, then it promised the people welfare and security,” Press TV quoted Dehqan as saying. All America did was to aggravate the situation in those countries, he added.

The Chinese diplomat was in Tehran as part of a high-ranking Chinese military delegation. Sun also met Iran’s Navy Commander Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari, who asked China for further cooperation to boost Iran’s maritime security.

According to Sayyari, Iran and China should increase its cooperation in providing security for the active shipping lines in the Indian Ocean, considering both countries have a persistent presence in the region.

The military representatives of Iran and China also reportedly discussed about intelligence exchange in the meeting. They apparently hoped to form a joint maritime committee.

Iran’s remark about restricting the U.S' influence in the Middle East comes two weeks after Russia started its air campaign in Syria. The Russian operation in Syria may have impressed some in the West. NY Times for one, appreciates the capability of the Russian military under President Vladimir Putin for “showcasing its ability to conduct operations beyond its borders and providing a public demonstration of new weaponry, tactics and strategy.”

Lt. Gen. Ben Hodges also noted that he was impressed with Russia’s military efforts in Syria. “What continues to impress me is their ability to move a lot of stuff real far, real fast,” the commander of the United States Army forces in Europe said.

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