Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei on Sunday commended as timely and praiseworthy the "brave” move of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) in arresting U.S. troops who had trespassed into Iran’s territorial waters.
Ayatollah Khamenei received the IRGC naval forces who arrested 10 U.S. sailors after their patrol boats entered the country’s territorial waters on January 12.
The Leader said "the praiseworthy move by the IRGC forces stemmed from their faith and courage and was taken at the right time.”
Ayatollah Khamenei said the capture of the U.S. sailors "was in fact an act of God, who brought the Americans into our waters so they would be arrested with their hands on their heads through your timely measure.”
Rear Admiral Ali Fadavi, the commander of the IRGC Navy, said two U.S. Navy crafts had waded three miles deep into Iranian waters off the Farsi Island in the Persian Gulf.
He said the incident occurred because of technical problems with the navigation systems of the American vessels.
Salami said Iran will give a crushing response to any possible act of aggression against the country.
Iran’s armed forces, he said, are determined to defend the Iranian territorial integrity and national interests in case of any invasion.
He added that the capture of the U.S. troops was a proof of the power of Iran’s naval forces, describing it as a clear victory for Iran at a crucial juncture.
The IRGC commander said this incident was a determining development in the region, because it made all foreign forces face a new reality and change their assessment of the power of the Islamic Republic of Iran in defending its territorial integrity and vital interests.
"We will continue to boost our defense capability and our missiles will be updated day by day,” Salami said, adding that Iran reserves the right to develop conventional weapons in order to "defend its independence and territorial integrity.”
On Saturday, Ayatollah Khamenei said Iran never trusted the West, adding the United States was "not honest" in the fight against terrorism in the region.
The Leader told Chinese President Xi Jinping during a visit that the Islamic Republic wanted to expand ties with "more independent countries."
Ayatollah Khamenei called for closer economic and security ties with China as the two countries agreed to increase bilateral trade more than 10-fold to $600 billion in the next decade.
"Iranians never trusted the West... That's why Tehran seeks cooperation with more independent countries (like China)," he said.
"Iran is the most reliable country in the region for energy since its energy policies will never be affected by foreigners," Ayatollah Khamenei was quoted by his official website as saying at a meeting with Xi.
Xi was the second leader of a UN Security Council member to visit Tehran since the nuclear deal Iran struck with world powers last year. Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Tehran in November.
Ayatollah Khamenei said Iran would never forget Chinese cooperation during the sanctions.
"The China-Iran friendship ... has stood the test of the vicissitudes of the international landscape," Xi was quoted as saying by China's Xinhua news agency.
The Chinese state-backed Global Times newspaper said in an editorial on Saturday that China hoped to improve ties with Iran as part of its sweeping plan to rebuild trade links with Europe and Asia and carve out new markets for its goods.
"China is of course considering its self interest in strengthening cooperation with Iran, especially at a time when China is in the midst of expending efforts to push forward the One Belt, One Road initiative, Iran is an important fulcrum," the paper said.
Iran has called on China to join the fight against Daesh and play a more active role in the region.