TEHRAN – The Iranian Armed Forces, including both the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) navy and the Army (Artesh) naval units, have established complete security throughout the Persian Gulf and surrounding waters, according to Revolutionary Guards Naval Commander Rear Admiral Alireza Tansiri.
Speaking at a ceremony in the southern port city of Bushehr on Saturday, Tansiri said the strategic waterway was completely safe under Iranian military vigilance, stressing that regional countries can themselves maintain peace and stability without the presence of foreign troops.
“We firmly believe that the countries in the region are fully capable of ensuring the security of this strategic waterway, and there is no need for the presence of foreign forces.”
The commander-in-chief said that the Persian Gulf littoral states have expressed readiness to hold joint naval exercises with Iran, reflecting a shared commitment to regional security cooperation.
But he criticized foreign powers for “manufacturing threats and tensions” to justify their illegitimate presence in the region and facilitate arms sales.
Tansiri praised Iranian forces for securing the entire Persian Gulf region, especially the Strait of Hormuz, a key gateway for global energy transport.
“The world has been able to keep this vital strait open because of the blood of the (Iranian) martyrs who sacrificed their lives to keep it safe.”
The admiral also pointed to advances in Iran’s naval technology, noting that in January, the Revolutionary Guards Navy successfully used AI-powered high-precision missiles aboard the independently developed Mohajah 6 and Ababil 5 drones during a large-scale naval exercise in the Persian Gulf.
He explained that the improved Qem and Almas missiles are part of Iran’s efforts to enhance the accuracy and operational range of its unmanned aircraft systems. The exercise, codenamed Payambar-e-Azam (The Great Prophet), also included a wide range of surface-to-sea and surface-to-surface missile launches aimed at conveying a message of peace and cooperation to neighboring countries, while strengthening the Revolutionary Guard’s deterrent capabilities.
In March, Iran, Lebanon, Iraq and Yemen held a joint naval parade in solidarity with the Palestinian people amid Israel’s war in Gaza. More than 3,000 heavy and light vessels participated in this coordinated event spanning the Persian Gulf, Makran coast and Caspian Sea, highlighting regional solidarity against aggression and injustice.