An Iranian Naval Group to Set Sail for the Atlantic Ocean

One of the commanders of the Iranian Navy announced on Friday that Iranian warships will be dispatched to the Atlantic Ocean in the early months of the next Persian year. This decision is part of Iran's efforts to expand the operational range of its navy near American maritime territory. According to Reuters, from Iran's perspective, the presence of the U.S. Navy in the Persian Gulf is a serious security concern, and Iran is attempting to retaliate by sending its navy close to U.S. maritime territory. Rear Admiral Touraj Hassani Moqaddam, the deputy commander of the Iranian Navy, stated that the movement of a naval group towards the Atlantic Ocean will begin early next Persian year. He told the state news agency IRNA, "The Atlantic Ocean is a long route, and this Iranian naval group's mission in this ocean may last up to five months." He added that the newly built Sahand warship will be part of this group. The Sahand warship has a helicopter flight deck and, according to Iranian naval commanders, is equipped with anti-aircraft weapons, anti-ship guns, ground-to-ground missiles, and surface-to-air missiles, with very advanced electronic military capabilities. In December, Admiral Hassani also mentioned that Iran would soon send several naval vessels to Venezuela. A senior Iranian military official stated last month that since U.S. aircraft carriers are allowed to operate in international waters near Iran's maritime borders, the Iranian Navy can also operate near U.S. maritime borders. Reuters reminds that in recent years, the Iranian Navy has expanded its operational range and has dispatched several vessels to the Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Aden to protect commercial ships. In another part of his interview with IRNA, Admiral Hassani said, "The continuous presence of the strategic naval groups of the Islamic Republic of Iran's Army is aimed at implementing the orders of the Supreme Commander, safeguarding the interests of the Islamic Republic of Iran in distant waters, raising the flag of the Islamic Republic of Iran, neutralizing the Iranophobia project, and ensuring the security of the country's shipping lines." Since Donald Trump came to power and withdrew the U.S. from the JCPOA in May, reimposing nuclear sanctions against Iran, the verbal war and mutual threats between Tehran and Washington have intensified. Iran has threatened that if it cannot sell its oil due to U.S. pressures, it will prevent the export of oil from other countries through various means, including blocking the Strait of Hormuz. One-third of the world's oil transported by ship passes through the Strait of Hormuz. In recent years, there have been instances of confrontations between the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and the U.S. Navy in the Persian Gulf, but these incidents have decreased in recent months.