The Israeli site “Mako” reported growing tensions in the Arabian Gulf due to the deployment of additional US forces to the region and the potential positioning of troops on tankers. Meanwhile, Iranians have showcased drones and missiles with a range of up to 1,000 kilometers, equipped for the Iranian Revolutionary Guard’s naval arm, leading to the question: “Is the maritime arena on the brink of escalation?”
“Mako” highlighted reports from Iranian media that Tehran has armed its fleet with drones and missiles, following the US military deployment in the Middle East. This comes especially after US officials stated that troops would be positioned on tankers passing through the Arabian Gulf to protect ships from Tehran’s aggression.
General Hussein Salami, the commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, commented during the unveiling of the new equipment, “The reinforcement of the Revolutionary Guard’s fleet is a direct result of the enemy approaching us in the region,” referring to the United States.
Drones and Controlled Boats
According to the website, the Revolutionary Guard has received drones for reconnaissance, intelligence, and attack purposes, as well as precision missiles with ranges between 300 to 1,000 kilometers. The site noted, “It seems the Iranians will increase the number of fast boats equipped with various types of missiles, a force Iran employs as a form of ‘violent swarm’.”
The website also reported that Iran’s Defense Ministry will add hundreds of controlled boats capable of launching short-range missiles to the Revolutionary Guard’s fleet. Some of these are described as “suicidal”, meaning they target and detonate themselves remotely.
Iran’s Maritime Threat
Since 2019, Iran has threatened civilian ship movements in the Strait of Hormuz and the Arabian Gulf. It has several times acted against commercial ships and oil tankers, seizing and redirecting them to Iran, aiming to pressure the West to make progress in nuclear deal negotiations.
The US Response
The site mentioned that Iranian actions met with a US response when Washington dispatched squadrons of A-10, F-16, F-35, and F-22 fighter jets, in addition to combat helicopters, reconnaissance aircraft, missile ships, and an amphibious ship carrying hundreds of Marines. This is part of a total force of 3,000 soldiers to the region, with the mission to counter Iranian actions and protect threatened ships. The forces were deployed in recent weeks, and there were also reports of intentions to deploy Marines on tankers to deter and thwart Iranian operations in the Strait of Hormuz.
