Iran should expand strategic defense depth as far as Mediterranean: Leader’s advisor

Major General Yahya Rahim Safavi, a former chief commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), made the remarks during an event held at Tehran’s Imam Hussein University on Wednesday.

“We have no choice other than lending more depth to [the dimensions of] the country’s defense and security,” Safavi said.

“The depth of our strategic defense is the Mediterranean Sea,” he noted, adding, “We should expand our strategic [defense] depth by 5,000 kilometers (3,106 miles).”

He described the Mediterranean and the Red Sea as “strategic spots.”

“The Corps Navy and Aerospace Division should focus on these spots, since future wars will be seaborne and airborne.”

Iran’s naval forces, featuring the country’s Navy and the IRGC Navy, have boosted their capacities to become capable of carrying out unique missions across the high seas.

This has helped expand the country’s strategic depth from the Persian Gulf, the Sea of Oman, and the northern parts of the Indian Ocean to distant waters.

Last May, the Islamic Republic’s 86th naval flotilla concluded a historic round-the-world voyage across the international waters, establishing an outstanding achievement despite the United States-led sanctions that have come to target the country.

Commenting on the achievement, Navy Commander Rear Admiral Shahram Irani said at the time that his force had, through deployment to the high seas and conclusion of the lengthy naval mission, established and expanded its strategic depth, foresight in maritime prowess, and regional identity and influence.