? Iran's FM spokesman said that the presence of foreign forces in the Persian Gulf is "provocative."

? The United States and Israel has said repeatedly that a nuclear Iran is intolerable.

? The United States has been saying it will never allow the Strait of Hormuz to be blocked.

Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman said that the presence of foreign forces in the Persian Gulf is " provocative" and poses threat to the region, Press TV reported on Saturday.

"No one is more concerned about the security and stability in the Persian Gulf than regional countries," Ramin Mehmanparast was quoted as saying.

Under the present sensitive circumstances, "the presence of foreign forces is provocative and (perceived as a) threat" to the region, said the Iranian spokesman.

"We advise regional countries to question the need for foreign military presence" in the Persian Gulf, he added.

Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman said Friday that security of the strategic Strait of Hormuz tops the list of the Islamic republic's foreign policy priorities, Press TV reported.

"We consider the security of the Strait of Hormuz as one of our official foreign policy priorities. The security of this strait is of significance to all the countries in the region and we want this security to be protected in the best way," Mehmanparast was quoted as saying.

He said that "we have repeatedly announced that we will try our best to maintain this security and we will use all our capabilities to stabilize security (of the Persian Gulf)," according to the report.

The Iranian spokesman added that some measures taken by a number of non-regional countries directly endanger security of the Persian Gulf.

The United States and Israel has said repeatedly that a nuclear Iran is intolerable and they would do whatever necessary, including military attacks, to prevent Tehran from getting that capability.

The United States has been saying it will never allow the Strait of Hormuz to be blocked and the critical waterway must stay open.

On Friday, Mehmanparast noted that establishment of security must be pursued in its entirety and include security of energy and the security of balance in the energy market, according to Press TV.

He accused the West of threatening the security of energy supply and emphasized on Iran's commitment to maintain security in the Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf.

Earlier this month, Iranian lawmaker Ebrahim Agha-Mohammadi said the National Security and Foreign Policy Commission of Iran's Majlis (parliament) had prepared a bill which called for the closure of the Strait of Hormuz in response to the recent European Union (EU) oil embargo on Iran.

Some Iranian government and military officials have already threatened to use all levers, particularly the Strait of Hormuz, if increased Western sanctions over Tehran's controversial nuclear activities halt Iran's exports and hurt the interests of the Islamic republic.