Large Military Drill by IRGC Begins in Persian Gulf; Model of American Aircraft Carrier Destroyed

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) began a large-scale military exercise named "Prophet Muhammad 9" in the Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf on Wednesday morning, March 6. At the start of this drill, IRGC forces destroyed a model of an American aircraft carrier using hundreds of rockets. According to Fars News Agency, during the first hours of the exercise, the IRGC targeted and destroyed a model of an American aircraft carrier in "real dimensions" with "hundreds of rockets and dozens of missiles," including several cruise missiles and two ballistic missiles. Fars News did not mention the range of the ballistic missiles used in this exercise, while the state news agency IRNA reported that these ballistic missiles were of "land-to-sea and land-to-land types." American officials have repeatedly expressed concern over Iran's ballistic missile program, which they claim could carry nuclear warheads. Ali Fadavi, commander of the IRGC Navy, stated in an interview with Fars News on May 6 that the IRGC has conducted extensive training to sink large American ships and can sink one of their vessels "in 50 seconds." Fars News also mentioned the destruction of "target drones by 100 vessels" of the IRGC as part of the actions taken during this drill. According to this news agency, approximately "30 vessels" of the IRGC Navy conducted mine-laying operations in the Strait of Hormuz during the exercise. The commander of the IRGC also stated during this exercise: "An unparalleled power has been created that we do not wish to test in a real situation, but if such a day were to come, the Sea of Oman, the Strait of Hormuz, and the Persian Gulf would definitely be under the complete control of the Iranian naval forces." According to Tasnim News Agency, Mohammad Ali Jafari added: "Hopefully, a day will come when the unity and cohesion of the countries in the region will be greater than today, and our enemies will leave the region, and this area will be established with complete security." Previously, Ali Fadavi had announced in a television program the IRGC's plans for the withdrawal of American forces from the Persian Gulf. U.S. coastal patrol vessels have been patrolling the Persian Gulf since 2003 with the aim of "enforcing international maritime laws." The Iranian army also conducted an exercise from December 24 for seven days in an area of approximately "two million and 200 thousand square kilometers" in southern Iran and parts of the Indian Ocean.