Abdolreza Abed, the commander of the IRGC's construction wing, Khatam al-Anbiya, has declared that foreign companies, including Chinese firms, are not needed for the Persian Gulf bridge project.

The 2.4 km bridge, which is set to connect Iran's Qeshm Island with its port city Bandar Abbas, is an infrastructure project aimed at enhancing the country's transportation network.

Despite the groundbreaking ceremony in 2011 under then-President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, progress has been sluggish with only about 30% completion so far. Abed claimed that with adequate government funding, the project could be finished within the next two years.

The IRGC general claimed that Khatam al-Anbiya construction conglomerate can manage the financing and contributions required.

His comments come a few days after Iran's foreign ministry summoned the Chinese ambassador to protest a joint statement between China and the UAE, which included language supporting the UAE's claim to three islands in the Persian Gulf, currently controlled by Iran but also claimed by the UAE.

The UAE, a key ally of the United States, became independent from Britain just before Iran took control of the islands during the monarchy in 1971.

Over the past decade, China has emerged as one of Iran's largest trading partners.