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Iran: We got this – hold my chai
Iran has announced its capability to safeguard regional waters together with neighboring countries, in response to a recent show of force by Western allies in the strategically important Strait of Hormuz, which Iran dismissed as a mere spectacle. Iranian officials made this statement during a ceremony held near the country’s southern waters to celebrate the return of two Iranian warships following an extensive eight-month global journey.
Just two days before the ceremony, naval commanders from France, the United Kingdom, and the United States, who were stationed in the Middle East, conducted a tour of the Strait of Hormuz aboard the USS Paul Hamilton. The purpose of this demonstration was to demonstrate unity against Iran and assert control over the safety of vessels that traverse this waterway, which plays a vital role in the transportation of global oil supplies.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Iran says it is strong enough to defend regional waters <a href="https://t.co/uM6dBEIfjr">https://t.co/uM6dBEIfjr</a></p>— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) <a href="https://twitter.com/AJEnglish/status/1660393844058345472?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 21, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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Mohammad Bagheri, head of the Iranian armed forces, urged Western nations to clarify why they are present in the Strait of Hormuz, which is far from their own territorial waters. Bagheri stated that Iran, along with other Persian Gulf countries, has the capability to cooperate in securing the Persian Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz, and the Sea of Oman. He emphasized that the Iranian Navy and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps are already responsible for maintaining the security of the regional waters, rendering foreign involvement unnecessary.
Vice Admiral Brad Cooper, in charge of the US Navy’s 5th Fleet, reported during a tour of the Hormuz region that Iran had captured eight ships and attacked seven others in the past two years. During the tour, fast boats belonging to the IRGC were observed monitoring the USS Paul Hamilton at a distance of less than 1 kilometer (0.5 nautical miles).
In recent weeks, Iran has captured two oil tankers in the regional waters. One tanker was seized based on a judicial order, while the other was allegedly captured after colliding with an Iranian ship while attempting to evade redirection toward an Iranian port. The United States has condemned these seizures as “unlawful” amidst ongoing tensions between the two countries. Efforts to revive Iran’s 2015 nuclear deal with world powers have also remained stalled.
Over the weekend, Iranian commanders and the foreign ministry spokesman celebrated the return of two Iranian warships. The frigate IRIS Dena, armed with anti-ship missiles and torpedoes, and the converted oil tanker IRIS Makran, which serves as Iran’s sole forward base ship, completed their extensive journey that began in early October, visiting several countries along the way.
Iranian ships recently completed a historic naval journey, traveling 65,000 kilometers (35,100 nautical miles) and visiting multiple countries. This is seen as a defiance of Washington sanctions and a workaround to harsh sanctions. At a welcoming ceremony, armed forces chief Bagheri announced the construction of additional frigates similar to the IRIS Dena. Alireza Tangsiri claimed that Iranian vessels were capable of approaching within 12 miles of American shores, further highlighting their naval capabilities.
