THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, September 8, 1994 TAG: 9409080460
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A13 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: MANAMA, BAHRAIN LENGTH: Short : 47 lines
The U.S. Navy's new chief in the Persian Gulf on Wednesday warned powers in the region not to challenge its growing stability after his predecessor declared that Iran, busily rearming, is becoming a serious threat.
Vice Adm. John S. Redd, speaking as he took command of the Tampa, Fla.-based Central Command, reiterated Washington's ``ironclad commitment to the defense of the countries in the gulf.''
He did not name any potential aggressor. But the former commander, Vice Adm. Douglas J. Katz, told The Associated Press on Tuesday: ``The threat from Iran is certainly growing.''
Katz, winding up a two-year tour at Central Command's regional headquarters in Bahrain, said the Islamic republic was building up its offensive capability.
Katz is being reassigned to Norfolk, where he will take over later this month as commander of Naval Surface Force Atlantic. The command was recently vacated by Vice Adm. J. Paul Reason.
Iran recently took delivery of four or five Houdong missile boats from China, Katz said. Iran has ordered 10 of the 68-ton, steel-hulled craft from Beijing.
It also has taken delivery of two of three attack submarines it ordered from Russia, becoming the first gulf state to have an underwater warfare capability.
Iran is well-stocked with surface-to-surface missiles, many of which are deployed around the Strait of Hormuz, the gateway for oil tankers leaving the gulf.
Western analysts believe that one objective of Iran's naval buildup is to control the vital strait, through which one-fifth of the world's oil supplies flow.
Katz said Iran has built fortifications on Abu Musa island, which dominates the Strait of Hormuz. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Katz
by CNB