Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy is prepared to shut down the Strait of Hormuz if ordered by the country’s senior leadership, its commander said amid large-scale naval exercises in the Persian Gulf this week, Iranian media reported.
Rear Adm. Alireza Tangsiri, commander of the IRGC Navy, made the remarks on Tuesday while overseeing drills in the Strait of Hormuz, as cited by the state-linked ISNA news agency. Iran temporarily closed the Strait on Tuesday during the drills.
“The decision to close the Strait of Hormuz lies with the senior officials of the system,” Tangsiri reportedly said. “As a soldier, I say that we are ready to do this whenever our senior officials say so.”
The comments came during what Iranian outlets described as an annual exercise focused on both defensive and offensive scenarios in the Persian Gulf and around key Iranian-held islands.
The IRGC commander said the maneuvers included “strong defense and invasion” drills involving Persian Gulf islands, which he described as “impregnable fortresses” and a source of national pride. He stressed that safeguarding the islands, the Persian Gulf, and the Strait of Hormuz has been entrusted to the IRGC Navy, adding that such exercises are conducted routinely to maintain readiness in a strategic region.
Maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz was temporarily suspended for several hours to allow the drills to proceed, according to reports in Iran.
Tangsiri noted that not all capabilities displayed in wartime are revealed during exercises.
'We have intelligence control over Hormuz'
“The weapons that come into play during war are different from what we see in exercises,” he said, adding that while some systems would be shown publicly, others would remain undisclosed or unveiled at a later stage.
The exercise reportedly centered on rapid-response operations against what Iranian media described as “maritime anti-security plots.” Tangsiri said IRGC naval units regularly train to quickly deploy, inspect, or, if ordered, seize vessels deemed to be violating security.
He further asserted that the IRGC Navy maintains comprehensive, round-the-clock intelligence coverage over the Strait of Hormuz, above, on, and below the water’s surface.
“Our intelligence control over the Strait of Hormuz is complete,” he said, describing it as a strategic necessity to ensure safe passage.
Tangsiri emphasized that more than 80 commercial tankers and container ships pass through the strait each day, accounting for a significant share of global maritime trade. He said Iran seeks to guarantee safe transit for “non-aggressive” countries with interests in the region.
The Strait of Hormuz, a narrow chokepoint between Iran and Oman, handles a substantial portion of the world’s oil exports. Iranian officials have repeatedly threatened to close the waterway during periods of heightened tension, a move that would have sweeping economic and security implications far beyond the Gulf.
The latest remarks underscore Tehran’s continued effort to project deterrence and operational control in one of the world’s most strategically sensitive maritime corridors.
IRGC promotes Iran's regional strategic
Tangsiri has previously threatened Israel and the US, expressing a desire to turn Iran into a naval and regional military power, and planning to confront Israel on various fronts.
He assured Iran's neighbors at the time that the Persian Gulf is secure and that it is Iran’s “responsibility.”
The IRGC Navy operates independently from Iran’s conventional naval forces and plays a pivotal role in advancing Tehran’s regional strategy, particularly in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz. It primarily conducts asymmetric operations and safeguards Iran’s strategic maritime interests.
Seth J. Frantzman contributed to this report.