Tel Aviv: When US president is taking a hard line against Iran’s nuclear program, Tehran is making moves to show that it is not secluded from other Arab nations in the region.
According to Iran International, the website operated from London by the opposition to the regime in Tehran, Iran has dispatched four vessels from its IRGC and army navies to the UAE for a meeting with Emirati naval forces.
“We have repeatedly said that regional countries can ensure the region’s security and that there is no need for foreign presence,” IRGC navy chief Alireza Tangsiri was quoted as saying by state media.
In addition to Persian Gulf forces, coalition forces including the US, Iran’s arch enemy, have a strong presence around the Strait of Hormuz.
The UAE and Iran repaired diplomatic ties in 2022, about six years after Abu Dhabi cut diplomatic relations in allegiance with Saudi Arabia after the 2016 looting of the Saudi embassy in Tehran. Saudi followed one year later.
The IRGC navy chief announced there will be ongoing drills with other countries neighbouring Iran such as Oman, which was one of the mediators involved in the repairing of ties between Iran and Saudi Arabia. “We have had engagements with Oman’s navy in this regard and have participated in joint drills with Oman,” he said.
A multi-purpose drone carrier will also be integrated into the IRGC navy, he said.
Last year, former Israeli defence minister Yoav Gallant , revealed that the Iranian revolutionary guards corps (IRGC) is converting commercial vessels to serve as military ships armed with UAVs and missile systems. “Iran aims to establish terror bases in the maritime space of the Middle East region.”
In a public speech, Minister Gallant said that the IRGC naval forces are attempting to infiltrate, by constructing “floating terror bases.”
Former minister Gallant detailed the Iranian strategy of converting trading vessels into military vessels armed with offensive equipment such as UAVs and missile systems, as well as with advanced means for intelligence gathering. He also addressed their intention to station the vessels at high distances from Iran, for extended periods of time.
-The writer is an Israel-based freelance journalist. The views expressed are of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views of Raksha Anirveda
