IRGC in Full Control over Sea of Oman, Strait of Hormuz, Persian Gulf

(FNA)- Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps Major General Mohammad Ali Jafari underlined that the whole regional waters, from the Sea of Oman and the Strait of Hormuz to the Persian Gulf, are under the full control of the IRGC.

Jafari made the remarks on the sidelines of the massive IRGC naval wargames, codenamed Payambar-e Azam 9 (The Great Prophet 9), in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday.

"The message of these wargames is that others should pay good heed to the point that they should not take any action near the Islamic Republic's security circle. We believe to be the defenders of the Strait of Hormuz' security and showed this in our wargames today," he underlined.

Jafari referred to the hi-tech weapons and missiles used during the Wednesday wargames, and said, "These advanced technologies when mixed with our power of faith create a unique power. Of course, we don’t intend to test them (the enemy) in a real situation, but if such a situation happens, certainly the Sea of Oman, the Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf region will be fully controlled by the IRGC Navy."

Stressing that the Payambar-e Azam 9 wargames are deterrent in nature, he said the exercises have a message of security and peace as they show the Islamic Republic of Iran's might to the country's allies and the regional states.

He said Iran does not have any issue with the regional countries, rather "we have a problem with the trans-regional enemies and God willing, one day unity and sympathy will grow among the regional states to such a degree that the enemy will leave our region and full security will be established."

The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Navy started massive wargames, codenamed Payambar-e Azam 9 (The Great Prophet 9), in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday.

The massive exercises started after IRGC Commander Major General Mohammad Ali Jafari issued the order and in the presence of other high-ranking Iranian officials and military commanders, including Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Major General Gholam Ali Rashid, Commander of the IRGC Aerospace Force Brigadier General Amir Ali Hajizadeh, Lieutenant Commander of the IRGC Brigadier General Hossein Salami, Commander of the IRGC Ground Force Brigadier General Mohammad Pakpour, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces Brigadier General Baqeri and IRGC Navy Commander Rear Admiral Ali Fadavi.

Different IRGC Navy vessels are being used in the exercises staged in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz.

Tens of IRGC vessels started 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.