US Central Command Commander Army General Joseph L. Votel claimed in a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on Thursday that Iran poses the most significant threat to Centcom’s complex area of responsibility, according to the official website of the US Department of Defense.
Votel said Centcom has dealt with a number of significant challenges over the past 12 months, including in Iraq, Syria, Pakistan, Yemen, Egypt, the Sinai and Bab-el-Mandeb Strait.
“We are also dealing with a range of [alleged] malign activities perpetrated by Iran and its proxies operating in the region,” the general claimed at the hearing on the stance of US Central Command and US Africa Command.
“It is my view that Iran poses the greatest long-term threat to stability for this part of the world.”
Iranian activities of concern, Votel alleged, include “[alleged] malign influence across Iraq and Syria”, and efforts to prop up the Syrian government and exploit Shia population centers.
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