IRGC Official: US Navy Ships Are Within Range of Iran's Ballistic Missiles

The deputy commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) stated that the IRGC possesses a "unique" ballistic missile that "only Russia and the US might have." He emphasized that US ships and "regional bases" are within the range of Iran's "precision-guided and unique ballistic missiles." According to a report on Wednesday, September 25, by Tasnim News Agency, Hossein Salami, the IRGC's deputy commander, highlighted that Iranian military forces monitor all "movements in the Persian Gulf, the Sea of Oman, and parts of the Indian Ocean" using "security reconnaissance patrols, drones, modern radars, and sophisticated electronic warfare tools." Salami noted that any US airbase "whose aircraft can reach Iranian airspace" and US aircraft carriers are "within the range of Iran's precision-guided and unique ballistic missiles and drones." He mentioned that the IRGC possesses a "unique ballistic missile" that "might only be held by Russia and the US," making it "almost impossible" to counter. Salami also stated that the IRGC has a drone with a round-trip range of 3,000 kilometers and "capabilities for reconnaissance and attack." Mohammad Javad Zarif, the foreign minister, and other members of Iran's nuclear negotiation team have repeatedly emphasized that the nuclear agreement does not impose restrictions on Iran's missile program, and the Islamic Republic intends to continue developing and testing its missiles, including ballistic missiles. These officials argue that the continuation of restrictions on Iran's missile tests is mentioned in UN Security Council Resolution 2231, but since Iran does not intend to build and test a nuclear warhead, this part of the resolution is automatically nullified. Following these remarks, Amir Ali Hajizadeh, commander of the IRGC Aerospace Force, announced on Friday, August 30, that a "large ballistic missile exercise by the IRGC" would be held soon. Meanwhile, Robert Shar, the US Deputy Secretary of Defense for Strategic Affairs, stated on Thursday, September 19, that despite the nuclear agreement with Iran, there is no reason to halt the missile defense shield program in the Persian Gulf. The IRGC's "powerful" intelligence network operates both domestically and internationally. The IRGC deputy commander responded to a question about the organization's parallel actions with intelligence agencies, stating that "all military apparatuses" worldwide have intelligence systems to deal with attacks. According to Khabar Online, Salami added, "We have powerful intelligence networks inside and outside." In recent years, especially after the 2009 presidential elections, many political activists, human rights activists, and journalists have been arrested by the IRGC's intelligence forces. Meanwhile, Ali Motahari, a principlist member of parliament, stated on Wednesday, June 11, 2014, that "the IRGC should not interfere in the Ministry of Intelligence's work."