Khamenei Changes Commander of the IRGC Navy

On Thursday, September 1st, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic appointed Alireza Tangsiri as the new commander of the IRGC Navy and Ali Fadavi as the deputy coordinator of this force in separate decrees. Ali Fadavi, who was previously the commander of the IRGC Navy, was appointed by Ayatollah Khamenei to replace Jamaluddin Abroumand as the deputy coordinator of the IRGC. In Khamenei's decree, it is stated that this appointment is made at the suggestion of the IRGC's chief commander, and Fadavi is expected to enhance the 'efficiency' of the IRGC while considering the comprehensive readiness of this force in 'protecting the Islamic Revolution and preserving its achievements.' In another decree, Khamenei appointed Alireza Tangsiri as the commander of the IRGC Navy, replacing Fadavi. Khamenei specified his expectations from Tangsiri, stating: 'Utilizing devout and revolutionary personnel, enhancing training and skills, and improving naval equipment and capabilities, along with increasing combat readiness, spiritual and insightful growth, and addressing livelihood needs with a focus on building a more mobile and growing naval force from the Islamic Revolution.' These changes in the IRGC come at a time when, following the U.S. withdrawal from the so-called JCPOA, the re-imposition of sanctions against Iran, and the U.S. efforts to reduce Iran's oil sales to zero to exert maximum pressure on the Islamic Republic's officials, several military commanders have threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz. Their statements came after Hassan Rouhani, the President of Iran, reacted to comments from a U.S. official regarding sanctions on Iranian oil, stating that 'it makes no sense for Iranian oil not to be exported while oil from the region is exported.' The operational commander of the U.S. Navy also warned Iran that the United States would maintain freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz by any means necessary. With tensions rising in relations between Tehran and Washington, CNN reported, citing U.S. security officials, that the IRGC has begun a large naval exercise in the region's waters. This action was assessed by General Joseph Votel, the head of U.S. Central Command, as a message from Tehran to the United States due to the resumption of economic sanctions against the Islamic Republic and a display of its military capabilities. Iran and the U.S. have faced challenges in the Persian Gulf multiple times. Last year, U.S. military officials stated that after several maritime confrontations between Iranian and U.S. naval forces in the Persian Gulf, this issue had been halted for several months. U.S. officials have repeatedly described the behavior of the IRGC's speedboats in the Persian Gulf as 'unsafe, provocative, and unprofessional,' but the IRGC claims it operates within the framework of laws and regulations and in line with Iran's right to protect its borders. Both sides speak of forcing each other to change behavior and reject each other's statements in this regard. The new commander of the IRGC Navy, who succeeded the commander of this force last year, claimed at a ceremony that 'the children of Islamic Iran in the Strait of Hormuz control the band against the global and extra-regional arrogance, and foreign vessels are forced to comply with this control and accountability.' He added, 'Any vessel that enters the Strait of Hormuz will be confronted by the IRGC Navy fighters, who, with God's assistance, will ask them to identify themselves.' Ali Fadavi, the former commander of the IRGC Navy, had previously announced in a television program that the IRGC plans to expel U.S. forces from the Persian Gulf. Meanwhile, U.S. coastal patrol vessels have been patrolling the Persian Gulf since 2003 with the aim of 'enforcing international maritime laws.'