“Chinese ships must leave Iran’s waters and any contract on this should be cancelled,” he said.
Brigadier General Alireza Tangsiri made the statement in a meeting with local fishermen in the Qeshm Island in the Persian Gulf on Tuesday.
The Iranian general said Iranian ships must be equipped with the equipment needed for fishing in the sea of Oman.
Chinese vessels are authorized to fish in Iranian waters at a depth of 200 meters based on long-term permits. But reports that the Chinese vessels are involved in excessive fishing operation in Iranian waters have caused uproar.
Opponents believe that overfishing by Chinese ships in Iranian waters has put fish resources at risk, negatively affecting local fishermen’s livelihood.
