The Iranian defense minister reiterated Iran’s position Friday that the cause of insecurity in the region is the presence of extra-regional foreign forces. 

Brigadier General Mohammad-Reza Gharaei Ashtiani made the remarks during his trip to the southern province of Hormozgan, where he visited the Ministry of Defense's naval projects in Bandar Abbas and other cities.

“Our message to the region and the world is a message of peace and tranquility,” he said, adding that “we believe that peace and stability in the region can be achieved with the presence and participation of all countries in the region.”

Iran often uses foreign forces in the region” to refer to the military presence of the United States in the Middle East and the Persian Gulf.

Having been briefed on the projects to build destroyers as well as surface and submarine vessels, Ashtiani said, "Increasing Iran’s military might in all aspects of defense, including land and air, and especially sea, is one of the priorities of the country's defense programs."

Highlighting that Iran's geopolitical position in the Persian Gulf is of strategic importance to the country, he said that the Defense Ministry will update and equip the Navy “in accordance with the regional threats in all its territorial waters.”

On Tuesday, the Israeli defense minister intensified pressure on Iran by calling for a military front with US leadership in the Middle East ahead of a visit to the region by President Joe Biden, saying that Israel and Arab countries that share its worries about Iran should build up their military capabilities under Washington's aegis.

Describing Iran as the most destabilizing force in the Middle East, the new CENTCOM commander in May called for coordinated efforts to confront Iran.