美國無視伊朗警告，誓言航母將繼續駐紮波斯灣

The U.S. military says the United States will continue to deploy warships in the Persian Gulf, after Iran warned a U.S. aircraft carrier not to return to the region. "The deployment of U.S. military assets in the Persian Gulf region will continue as it has for decades," Pentagon spokesman George Little said in a statement. A U.S. Navy officer (( Bill Speaks )) said in an email to reporters on Tuesday that the United States is committed to ensuring the safe flow of maritime traffic in waterways critical to global commerce. Iran has threatened to respond to Western sanctions over its controversial nuclear program by closing the Strait of Hormuz, a key export route for oil-producing countries of the Persian Gulf.

Earlier Tuesday, Iranian army chief Ataollah Salehi warned a U.S. carrier that was previously in the Persian Gulf to stay away. He said Iran is ready to respond to what it perceives as a "threat." The U.S. Navy said last week the USS John C. Stennis left the Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz in a pre-planned, routine operation.美國軍方說，美國將繼續在波斯灣部署戰艦，此前，伊朗警告說，美國的一艘航空母艦不要返回該地區。美國五角大樓發言人利特勒說，“就像幾十年來一樣，美國會繼續在波斯灣部署美軍裝備。”美國一名海軍軍官星期一在一封電子郵件中告訴記者，美國致力於確保對全球商務至關重要的海事通道的安全暢通。西方國家打算對伊朗有爭議的核項目實施新的制裁，伊朗警告說，將以關閉霍爾木茲海峽來回應。霍爾木茲海峽是波斯灣地區其它產油國的關鍵出口通道。

星期二早些時候，伊朗三軍總司令薩萊希警告，先前停泊在波斯灣的美國航母應該離開。他說，伊朗準備對他們視爲的“威脅”作出迴應。美國海軍上星期表示，美國斯坦尼斯號航空母艦經過霍爾木茲海峽離開波斯灣地區是預先計劃的例行行動。