IRGC establishes new naval base in Persian Gulf

During a ceremony held on Sunday, a naval base of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps was inaugurated in the port city of Bandar Lengeh, which is located on the coast of the Persian Gulf in the southern province of Hormozgan.
The naval base, named the Imam Muhammad Baqer (AS) Fifth Naval Region, has been established to increase the operational capabilities of the IRGC Naval Force and expand its area of responsibility in the Persian Gulf in line with Iran’s defense doctrine.

During the opening ceremony, the commander of the IRGC, Major General Mohammad Ali Jafari, said that the establishment of a naval base with an “independent mission” to maintain the security of the Persian Gulf and Iranian islands is one of the objectives of the IRGC in the strategic Persian Gulf region.

“Maintaining security in the waters of the Strait of Hormuz and the disputed strategic islands in the Persian Gulf (the three Iranian islands of Abu Musa and the Greater and Lesser Tunbs) are important missions of the base,” he said, adding, “Most of the marines of the IRGC Naval Force and well-equipped naval fleets of the IRGC will be stationed in this region.”

Elsewhere in his remarks, Jafari said that the IRGC’s defense measures in the region have discouraged the enemies from even thinking about issuing military threats in the Persian Gulf region.

Britain has devised new seditious plot for Persian Gulf region

The commander of the IRGC Naval Force also delivered a speech during the ceremony, in which he said that Britain is seeking to pursue its interests in the region through a new act of “sedition” in the Persian Gulf region related to the three Iranian islands.

“So the IRGC Naval Force will not allow Western countries to achieve their goals through maintaining a strong presence in the region,” Rear Admiral Ali Fadavi added.

The British daily The Independent reported on Friday that British Prime Minister David Cameron is considering stationing warplanes in the Persian Gulf amid rising tension in the region.