Iran Guards commander challenges 'enemy' naval presence in region

As tensions rise on vital trade lanes where Tehran’s allies have begun assaulting boats, the head of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards threatened on Saturday to reach “the enemy” far and near.

“Today, we are facing an all-out battle with the enemy,” said Guards commander Hossein Salami at a ceremony in the southern Gulf port city of Bandar Abbas, where the Guards’ navy unveiled a new ship named “Abu Mahdi” and 100 missile launchers.

Salami did not identify the adversary, but 22 countries have joined forces with the US to protect Red Sea commerce from attacks by the Houthi movement, which is supported by Iran in Yemen.

The Houthi attacks, which have been going on since November, are an expression of solidarity for Hamas in its conflict with Israel.

As a result, a lot of big maritime corporations have chosen to bypass the Suez Canal, which handles roughly 12 per cent of world trade, and use the more difficult and expensive route around Africa’s Cape of Good Hope.

“We need to defend our national interests to wherever they extend,” Salami said in a televised speech. “It will be harmful for the enemy to be found near and at a half distant. They should stay away from this area.”

The Guards’ navy, he said, had made a “brilliant leap in its offensive and defensive powers” to challenge the world’s naval powers.

According to Iranian media, Iran’s Alborz warship entered the Red Sea earlier this month to secure shipping routes.