© ReutersIranian drones • Ceremony of joining the IRGC Navy
Iran has equipped its Revolutionary Guards' navy with drones and 1,000-km (600-mile) range missiles, Iranian news agencies reported on Saturday, as the US offers to put guards on commercial ships going through the Gulf's Strait of Hormuz.
Referring to the possible presence of US guards, Iranian armed forces spokesperson
Brigadier General Abolfazl Shekarchi said the region's countries were capable of ensuring Gulf security themselves."What do the Gulf, the Gulf of Oman and the Indian Ocean have to do with America? What is your business being here?" Shekarchi said by the semi-official Tasnim news agency.
State news agency IRNA said the Revolutionary Guards' weapons include
"various types of drones ... and several hundred cruise and ballistic missiles with a range of 300 to 1,000km are among the systems and equipment that were added to the capabilities of the Guards' navy today."Earlier this week,
Washington said it could soon offer to put armed sailors and Marines on commercial ships in the region following Iran's seizure and harassment of vessels. Last month, it said it would
send additional F35 and F16 fighter jets, along with a warship to the Middle East, to monitor waterways.
© AFPTankers and Iranian gunboats on patrol
About a fifth of the world's crude oil passes through the Strait of Hormuz between Iran and Oman.
Tehran usually says detained vessels have committed shipping violations. Some have been released only after foreign countries have freed detained Iranian ships.
Revolutionary Guards' Navy Commander Alireza Tangsiri told state TV on Saturday that the new missiles had better precision as well as longer range.
"The cruise missiles can attack several targets simultaneously and the commands can be altered after take-off," Tangsiri said.
Comment: Action and reaction ensures escalation. The United States is
determined to oblige:
IRGC commander Hossein Salami said that Iran viewed the US presence as an opportunity to boost the country's army production capacity.
Hundreds of new strategic systems, equipment and weapons were delivered to the armed forces in a ceremony attended by Revolutionary Guard Corps General Comd. Maj. Gen. Hossein Salami and senior military officials.
The weapons and equipment were manufactured by the Ministry of Defence and affiliated entities, including missile launch ramps, radar systems and hundreds of cruise and ballistic missiles.
Salami said:
"The enemy's presence has transformed into an opportunity for us. This has allowed us to capitalise on opportunities, boost the growth rate of our defence and military power production by breaking the chain of threats and dangers."
Tanker seizures crisis
The US seized Iranian tankers carrying crude oil due to unilateral sanctions and attempts to auction the oil.
In response, Iran intervened with tankers around the Persian Gulf, citing maritime regulation non-compliance.
In late April, the US Navy seized the Suez Rajan tanker carrying 800,000 barrels of oil in southern African waters, towing it to the American state of Texas.
In retaliation, Iran seized the Advantage Sweet tanker on April 27 operated by Chevron in the Gulf of Oman. Tehran said it violated "international maritime rules" by colliding with an Iranian ship and fleeing.
On May 3, Iran seized the Panama-flagged Niovi oil tanker near the Strait of Hormuz.
US forces announced on June 5 that the Iranian navy fired at two oil tankers near the Gulf of Oman, including at the Richmond Voyager, in an attempt to seize them, but those efforts were thwarted. Iran, however, revealed that a court order was issued to seize the Bahamas-flagged Richmond Voyager oil tanker operated by Chevron in the Persian Gulf, as it collided with an Iranian ship and fled.
Comment: Action and reaction ensures escalation. The United States is determined to oblige: