Iran: US F-22 deployment against regional security

TEHRAN - Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said Tuesday that the recent deployment of US F-22 Raptors in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is against the regional security.

Addressing reporters in his weekly briefing, Mehmanparast said the presence of foreign forces in the region and deployment of their arsenal in their regional bases will endanger the security of the region.

He called on the litoral states of the Persian Gulf not to provide any base for non-regional forces.

If the litoral states of the Persian Gulf work together to provide security for the whole region, it would be "helpful," said the Iranian spokesman.

Any kind of dependence on foreign forces would be against the interest of the countries which make use of it, he added.

Earlier media reports said the United States recently deployed its F-22 Raptors at the UAE Al Dafra Air Base.

Iran and the UAE have been at odds for decades over the ownership of three islands in the Persian Gulf -- the Greater and Lesser Tunbs, and the Abu Musa island. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad visited the Iran-controlled Abu Musa island last month, sparking criticism from Arab countries and the recall of UAE ambassador from Iran.

The U.S. government has called for a peaceful resolution of the disputes over the islands between Iran and the UAE, and blamed Ahmadinejad for complicating the situation with his visit.