TEHRAN – The Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) has unveiled a new strategic underground base along Iran’s southern coast near the Persian Gulf that will house numerous fast attack craft.
The facility was officially unveiled on Saturday by Rear Admiral Hossein Salami, Supreme Commander of the Revolutionary Guards, and Rear Admiral Alireza Tansiri, Chief of the Revolutionary Guards Navy, in a television broadcast that also aired scenes from the site.
At the unveiling ceremony, Naval Chief Tansiri said, “This underground city has the ability to carry out immediate operations at sea,” emphasizing the strategic capabilities of this facility.
Describing the navy’s agility and lethality, Tansiri said, “The Americans themselves call these Iranian ships ‘red bees.'” The sting of this wasp is fatal. ”
He also explained that Iranian ships evade radar and can fire missiles at targets at “very high speeds.” He emphasized that these advances were achieved in the face of anti-Iranian sanctions.
“It’s just a fraction of Iran’s power.”
Additionally, Rear Admiral Salami stressed that the unveiled ships and missile systems will increase the combat effectiveness of the various indigenous vessels currently patrolling the Persian Gulf to protect Iran’s sovereignty and maritime boundaries.
“This is just a small part of the Navy’s extensive capabilities,” the Revolutionary Guard chief said, adding that the Navy continues to advance its combat readiness and defense strategy.
Salami also expressed confidence in the progress the Revolutionary Guards Navy has made in recent years, both in terms of quantity and quality of attack systems. He detailed improvements in ship range and speed, missile range, accuracy and destructive power.
The Revolutionary Guards Navy is now equipped to wage war from both close and long ranges and can strategically manage multiple layers of defense, the commander declared.
The underground base revealed Sunday night is the second Revolutionary Guard facility to be unveiled this month, following last week’s unveiling of an advanced underground missile base known as “Missile City.” Much of the base remains closed to the public, but video footage showed a variety of liquid-fueled, high-tech missiles, including the Emad, Qadr, and Qiam models.
The construction of underground facilities is the cornerstone of Iran’s defense posture. These facilities protect military assets from airborne threats while enabling rapid retaliatory responses. This strategy is also believed to act as a deterrent against potential aggressors, significantly complicating operational planning should an enemy consider an attack.
A look back at Iran’s maritime vanguard
The Iranian Navy, consisting of the Revolutionary Guards Navy and the Iranian (Artesh) Navy, has made great strides in recent decades. The synergistic relationship between these two departments creates a robust defense-in-depth system.
Initially focused on coastal defense after the Islamic Revolution, the Revolutionary Guards Navy has transformed into a formidable force specializing in asymmetric warfare. This transformation is evident in our fleet of agile speedboats and state-of-the-art Shahid Soleimani-class stealth missile corvettes.
In contrast, the Iranian Navy (part of the Iranian Army or Artesh) is expanding its capabilities in the open seas to protect its interests in the Gulf of Oman, the Caspian Sea, and other regions.
The Iranian Navy has a modernized fleet with new missiles and electronic systems, systems built by Iran despite the burden of harsh Western sanctions.
The Navy’s global maritime ambitions were highlighted by the 86th Fleet’s circumnavigation in May 2024, when it sailed 63,000 kilometers and crossed the equator four times.
The plan for a permanent base in Antarctica, announced by Navy Commander Rear Admiral Shahram Irani, further demonstrates Iran’s growing maritime ambitions.
While the Iranian Navy maintains a traditional naval force, the Revolutionary Guards Navy provides agile and innovative support. This combination will comprehensively protect Iran’s maritime interests and economic security in a volatile regional environment.