File image.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy on December 4 kicked off a two-day naval exercise, issuing warnings to United States warships operating in waters near the Islamic Republic.
The exercise is named after Mohammad Nazeri, a commander of the elite commando units of the IRGC Navy who lost his life in 2016. It is taking place in the Persian Gulf, the Hormuz Strait, the Sea of Oman, and the islands of Abu Musa, Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb, and Siri.
Iranian state TV reported the exercise showcases the “sacrifice and spirit of resistance” of the IRGC’s naval forces “to confront any threat” against Iran following the 12-day war with Israel last June.
Naval units “issued warnings to American vessels present in the region, conveying their firm message,” the report said, adding that the IRGC naval forces fired air defenses, including Navab, Majid, and Misaq, under electronic-warfare conditions that “were able to detect aerial and maritime targets using artificial intelligence.”
The state TV also said that the exercise carries a message of “peace and friendship” for neighboring countries, while delivering a “clear warning and decisive response” to enemies.
Video footage aired by the TV show an Iranian drone, most likely a Mohajer-6, tracking an Independence-class littoral combat ship of the U.S. Navy.
In addition, footage shows a Zulfighar class air-defence boat of the IRGC Navy firing a Navab anti-aircraft missile at an aerial target during the exercise. In another part of the video an upgraded Ashura-class speedboat is seen firing a Kowsar 222 anti-aircraft missile at what appears to be a surface target. Both missiles are guided via infrared imaging and have a range of around 15 kilometers.
The exercise began just a day after IRGC deputy commander in chief Ali Fadavi said “no country can diminish the role of the Strait of Hormuz,” vowing that the guards’ naval forces will protect the waterway.
The security of the Gulf is Iran’s “red line,” he added, describing Iran’s adversaries – the United States and Israel – as the “main drivers of global insecurity,” according to the state-run Islamic Republic News Agency.
Iran began working on rebuilding its military capabilities quickly after the end of the last war with Israel. The naval forces of the Islamic Republic have received much attention. Just a week earlier, the floating forward base Kordestan and the destroyer Sahand were delivered to the Islamic Republic of Iran Navy.
Aside from a cruise missile attack from a U.S. nuclear submarine, the 12-day war saw no naval action. It is not guaranteed, however, that this would be the case in a future confrontation, especially that the U.S. will likely get more involved.
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