INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Persian Gulf, housing myriads of fast attack craft.The facility was officially unveiled on Saturday by IRGC Commander-in-Chief Major General
Hossein Salami and IRGC Navy Chief Rear Admiral Alireza Tangsiri, during a television broadcast that also featured glimpses of the
site.During the unveiling, Navy Chief Tangsiri highlighted the facility's strategic capabilities, stating, "This underground city has the
capability for immediate operations at sea."Describing the agility and lethality of the naval forces, Tangsiri said, "The Americans
themselves call these Iranian boats 'red wasps.' The sting of these wasps is deadly."He further explained that the Iranian-made vessels are
radar-evading and can launch missiles at targets with "very, very high speed"
Major General Salami highlighted that the unveiled vessels and missile systems enhance the combat effectiveness of various homegrown crafts
strategies.Salami also expressed confidence in the progress made by the IRGC Navy in recent years, both in terms of the quantity and quality
He detailed improvements in the operational range and speed of the vessels, as well as the range, accuracy, and destructive power of their
missiles.The IRGC Navy is now equipped to conduct warfare from both close and distant ranges and can strategically manage multiple layers of
defense, the commander declared.The underground base revealed Sunday night was the IRGC's second such facility unveiled this month,
undisclosed, video footage displayed a range of liquid-fueled, high-tech missiles, including Emad, Qadr, and Qiam models.The construction of
These facilities provide protection for military assets against aerial threats, while simultaneously enabling a swift retaliatory response
The strategy is also believed to act as a deterrent to potential aggressors and significantly complicates any adversary's operational
planning should they consider an attack.A look at Iran's maritime vanguardsIran's naval forces, consisting of the IRGC Navy and the Iranian
[Artesh] Navy, have achieved significant advancements in recent decades
The synergistic relationship between these two branches creates a robust, layered defense system.Initially focused on coastal defense
following the Islamic Revolution, the IRGC Navy has transformed into a formidable force specializing in asymmetric warfare
This transformation is evident in its fleet of agile speedboats and the advanced Shahid Soleimani class stealth missile corvettes.In
contrast, the Iranian Navy (part of the Iranian Army or Artesh) has been expanding its blue-water capabilities to protect interests in the
86th flotilla's world circumnavigation in May 2024, covering 63,000 kilometers and crossing the equator four times.Plans for a permanent
base in Antarctica, announced by Navy Commander Rear Admiral Shahram Irani, further demonstrate Iran's expanding maritime ambitions.While
the Iranian Navy maintains conventional naval power, the IRGC Navy provides agile, innovative support
This combination ensures comprehensive protection of Iran's maritime interests and economic security in a volatile regional environment.
