Commander of the Quds Special Forces of the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Esmail Qaani warned that the US and Israel will face the "difficult days ahead", adding that the US warship fire is a hauge that the US must bear.
Speaking at a meeting of senior commanders on July 14, Lieutenant General Esmail Qaani called on Americans "not to waste time searching for culprits or finding charges against others" for the Navy ship fire off San Diego.
"This is a fire that they (the Americans) lit up themselves," Press TV quoted Qaani as saying about the fire that broke out on the US Navy's sister ship ship USS Bonhomme Richard in San Diego on July 12.
The fire and at least one large explosion quickly spread to a level 3 alarm fire. The US Navy said the ship has been docked for maintenance according to the schedule between deployments.
Amid signs the ship could continue burning for several days, hundreds of US firefighters have struggled to fight the fire for two consecutive days. At least 59 people, including 36 crew members and 23 civilians, were hospitalized for treatment of burns and smoke inhalation.
The fire that broke out on the morning of July 12 is considered one of the worst shipping fires in recent years.
The USS Bonhomme Richard is the second largest warship in the US Navy, after the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier. According to the American Federation of Scientists, the USS Bonhomme Richard cost about $761 million and is implementing a $250 million upgrade package, making its value exceed $1 billion.
Lieutenant General Esmail Qaani was appointed Quds Force chief after the US assassinated Qassem Soleimani - the late Quds Force Commander in a drone attack in Baghdad in early January.
Mr. Qaani stated that both the US and its regional ally Israel will face serious difficulties and adversities in the coming time.
