Navy Commander: US Wary of IRGC’s New Strategic Weapon

Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps Navy Rear Admiral Ali Fadavi said the IRGC’s new weapon that was test-fired during the recent wargames in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz cannot go unnoticed in US military equations.
“We have achieved new and strategic weapons with special specifications and despite the US saying that it is not concerned about these weapons, it cannot conceal its concerns,” Fadavi said in an interview with Iran-based Arabic-language al-Alam news channel on Tuesday.

He referred to the IRGC’s new missile which can be fired from under the sea and hit surface targets, and said, “The new weapon that we test-fired in the recent drills, is a strategic and special weapon and the Americans cannot ignore the weapon’s power.”

Fadavi also underscored the IRGC’s power and might in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, and said, “The IRGC monitors the region round the clock and despite the fact that the Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf is a region under international control, the Americans know that they are not in desirable conditions to threaten Iran from the Persian Gulf.”

“We have enough power to keep the Strait of Hormuz open and help the world in this regard but the Americans are after creating crisis and problem in the Strait of Hormuz as they did in Afghanistan and Iraq,” he added.

The IRGC Navy ended the massive wargames, codenamed Payambar-e Azam (The Great Prophet) 9, in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz on Friday.

Speaking to reporters in the Southern Iranian port city of Bandar Abbas on Friday, Rear Admiral Fadavi said on Friday that the IRGC’s massive wargames ended after three days in Southern Iran after testing a strategic weapon.

“This new weapon plays a determining role in increasing Iran’s naval power to confront the threats, specially by the US, against the Islamic Revolution,” he said.

Different IRGC Navy vessels were used in the exercises that started in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz last Wednesday.

On the first day of the drills, a mock aircraft carrier was destroyed by the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps missiles.

The model was built in real size and came under attack and was destroyed by missiles and rockets fired from tens of IRGC speedboats.

Also a number of the IRGC cruise and two ballistic missiles were fired at the mock US aircraft carrier.

Also during the wargames, a mobile naval target was destroyed by Fateh 110 and Zelzal missiles on a deserted island 270km away from the wargames zone.

During the first moments of the second stage of the drills, enemy drones were also hit and destroyed by Misaq shoulder-launched missiles and artilleries mounted on 100 IRGC’s speedboats.

Also, tens of IRGC vessels conducted high-speed mine-laying operations in a short period of time to get ready for critical situations in times of possible threats.

Fadavi described Iran’s “mine-laying” capability as “the most important concern of the Americans”, and said, “We have the most advanced sea mines which cannot be imagined by the Americans.”

In recent years, Iran has made great achievements in its defense sector and attained self-sufficiency in producing essential military equipment and systems.

Iranian officials have always stressed that the country’s military and arms programs serve defensive purposes and should not be perceived as a threat to any other country.

Iran’s naval power has even been acknowledged by foes. In a Sep. 11, 2008 report, the Washington Institute for the Near East Policy said that in the two decades since the Iraqi imposed war on Iran, the Islamic Republic has excelled in naval capabilities and is able to wage unique asymmetric warfare against larger naval forces.

According to the report, Iran’s Navy has been transformed into a highly motivated, well-equipped, and well-financed force and is effectively in control of the world’s oil lifeline, the Strait of Hormuz.

Since November 2008, the Iranian Navy has also conducted anti-piracy missions in the Gulf of Aden and Bab el-Mandeb Strait to protect the country’s cargo ships and oil tankers against pirates.