Tehran: Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has announced “new rules” regulating waters off its southern shores, committing to strengthen oversight of critical sea routes in the Arabian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz, according to Iranian state media Press TV.
A declaration from the IRGC Navy command stated the group plans to maintain dominance across approximately 2,000 km of Iran’s shoreline, covering the Arabian Gulf and the crucial Strait of Hormuz.
The declaration outlined the goal of making these waters “a source of pride and power for the dear people of Iran, and a source of security and prosperity for the region.”
Press TV noted the release came one day after Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei gave the order, declaring that outsiders pursuing “ominous” agendas targeting the Persian Gulf belong nowhere in the area “except at the bottom of its waters.”
The United States enacted a naval blockade against Iran on April 13, after the Islamabad Talks failed to stop the ongoing war.
Earlier Friday, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei labeled US bases across West Asia a “paper tiger,” casting doubt on their power to safeguard themselves during heightened friction between Washington and Tehran.
In a post on X, Khamenei derided the protective capabilities of those US installations, while indirectly criticizing Washington’s backers in the region through allusions to Israel and Arab nations aligned with the US in the fight.
“America’s paper tiger bases can’t even secure themselves, let alone the regional American-worshippers,” the Iranian Supreme Leader said.
In another X post, the Supreme Leader underscored the Persian Gulf’s profound strategic and cultural value, beyond its physical boundaries.
“The Persian Gulf is a blessing that transcends a mere expanse of blue waters; it is a part of our identity and civilisation, a point of connection between nations, and a vital pathway for the global economy,” the post read.
Thursday saw Khamenei proclaim a future for the Persian Gulf devoid of US involvement, maintaining that outside militaries have no function there save “in the depths of its waters.”
As relayed by state broadcaster Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) in a Persian Gulf Day address, Khamenei highlighted the intertwined destinies of Gulf countries and called for remote powers to refrain from meddling in local issues.
He portrayed the changing landscape as the onset of a “new order” forged by Iran’s steadfast opposition and area developments.
