Commander of Iran's Navy Forces Habibollah Sattari said Wednesday that Iran's naval forces are fully ready to protect the entire Gulf, the official IRNA news agency reported.

Sattari told reporters on the sidelines of his visit to a naval base in Sirjan, a city in southern province of Kerman.

The forces will defend the territory of the country as well as the sea borders powerfully, the report quoted Sattari as saying.

He also said the country's naval forces are controlling and closely watching all movements in the region now.

The United States and its allies have accused Iran of trying to develop nuclear weapons under the cover of a civilian nuclear program. Iran has denied the US charges and insists that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes only.

The Bush administration has said it focused on diplomacy to try to resolve Iran's nuclear issue, but has insisted it will take "no option off the table."

Some observers believe that it is possible that the United States and Israel would attack Iranian targets for Tehran's suspicious nuclear program.

(Xinhua News Agency August 14, 2008)