Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Commander Vows To Challenge Enemy Presence On Key Shipping Lanes

The Guards commander of Iran, Hossein Salami, announced on Saturday to take on perceived threats from both close and far away in a ceremony held in the southern Gulf port city of Bandar Abbas. Salami stated, “Today we are facing an all-out battle with the enemy” during the ceremony, displaying a new ship called “Abu Mahdi” with 100 missile launchers, showcasing an improved offensive and defensive capacity.

Although Salami did not name his opponents specifically, the speech was made amid escalating hostilities along vital commerce lanes. Remarkably, 22 countries have joined an alliance led by the United States to defend the Red Sea trade against assaults attributed to the Houthi movement in Yemen, which Iran supports. These attacks, which have been going on since November, are thought to be a display of support for Hamas, a Palestinian organisation, in its fight against Israel.

Major shipping firms have rerouted, choosing to avoid the Suez Canal, which handles 12% of world trade, in favour of a longer and more costly trip around Africa’s Cape of Good Hope in response to the heightened regional tensions.

During a television speech, Salami stressed the need to protect national interests no matter how far they spread and warned against potential enemies. He cautioned them of the Guard’s navy’s offensive and defensive capabilities advances and recommended avoiding the area.

According to reports, Iran’s Alborz warship entered the Red Sea early this month, likely to safeguard shipping lanes in reaction to the changing circumstances in the area.

Reference: Reuters

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Source: Maritime Shipping News