US ‘troubled’ by presence of Iranian military officials at Doha Defence Show

‘We utterly reject their presence at the show and its maritime defence exhibit,’ says State Department

WASHINGTON:

The US expressed discontent Thursday over the presence of Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) officers at the Doha Defence Show in Qatar.

The US is “deeply disappointed and troubled” by the presence of Iranian military officials and IRGC officers, said US State Department spokesman Ned Price in a statement.

Read more: Iran's Revolutionary Guards tout missile prowess at Doha exhibition

“We utterly reject their presence at the show and its maritime defence exhibit, as it is Iran that is biggest threat to maritime stability in the Gulf region,” Price said.

He said transactions related to Iranian weapons, terrorism and weapons of mass destruction are sanctionable under multiple US authorities.

President Joe Biden on March 10 designated Qatar as a major non-NATO ally of the US.