Iran wants to purge 'evil'

News24:

Iran's hardline President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad called on Thursday for improved relations with his Gulf neighbours and the exit of "evil" foriegn forces from the strategic waters.

"Iran supports and welcomes any move to boost relations with the people of the Persian Gulf. We should prepare the grounds for the exit of the evil forces from the Persian Gulf," he was quoted as saying by Iranian news agencies.

The term "evil" is usually used by Iranian officials to refer to the United States, which maintains a heavy military presence in the waters between Iran and the Arabian peninsula. READ MORE

"The big powers have always planned to gain control of the Persian Gulf and have tried to create conflict among the region's nations," he said in a speech in the southern province of Hormouzgan.

"This gulf is Persian and forever it will remain the Persian Gulf," Ahmadinejad added, hitting out at anyone to attempts to name the waters otherwise. - Sapa-AFP