By Tolga Akbaba

ANKARA

An Iranian naval commander on Tuesday said Chinese fishing vessels should leave Iranian waters, according to reports in Iran’s state media.

“Chinese fishing ships should leave Iranian territorial waters and all agreements regarding the issue should be canceled,” Admiral Alireza Tangsiri, commander of the Iranian Navy, was quoted as saying by the IRNA news agency.

During a visit to Iran’s Qeshm Island (located in the Strait of Hormuz), Tangsiri also reportedly urged local fishermen to ply their trade in the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman.

Local fishermen complain that Chinese fishing vessels operating off the coast of Iran’s Sistan Baluchestan province have depleted the area’s marine resources.