TEHRAN // Iran's president has slammed "foreign presence" in the Arabian Gulf, claiming it is the source of insecurity in the region.
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Iran has "always guarded peace and security" in the Arabian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway through which about one-fifth of the world's oil supply passes.
Mr Ahmadinejad said that "foreign presence has been main reason of insecurity in the region" - an apparent reference to Western nations and the US 5th Fleet based in Bahrain.
Mr Ahmadinejad's remarks came ahead of a military parade in Tehran today as Iran marks National Army Day.
