Alireza Tangsiri, Commander of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps Naval Forces (IRGCN), reported that the US aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower complied with an Iranian warning during a recent encounter in the Gulf on November 26. He mentioned that the aircraft carrier entered the Persian Gulf only after responding to all queries posed by the IRGCN in Persian. "As their aircraft carrier entered the Persian Gulf, they answered all our questions in Persian... anyone entering the Persian Gulf must speak in Farsi. After noticing several speedboats ahead, they quickly altered their course from the Strait of Hormuz towards the southern waters of the Persian Gulf and into neighboring countries’ waters… We have documented all their movements with videos and photos. This time, their entry was much more compliant than before, and they cooperated well,"
Tangsiri described the incident, noting that IRGC drones flew over the carrier while the American side assured that their helicopters would not venture beyond the carrier. "Our drones flew above them, and we warned that their helicopters should not fly beyond the carrier. They acknowledged they were above their ship and obeyed our orders," he explained.
He also commented on the broader strategic context in the Persian Gulf, observing a reduction in enemy presence. "The enemy has retreated from the Persian Gulf in recent years, and they have not returned, presumably to preserve their reputation. They are no longer present in our waters and avoid passing through our waterways, staying in the waters of the southern Persian Gulf countries instead."
IRGCN maintained that the elite intelligence unit of the IRGCN recorded the activities of the U.S. naval fleet, which included the aircraft carrier CVN-69 Eisenhower, the cruiser CG56 Philippine Sea, the destroyers DDG107 Gravely and DDG63 Stetem, along with the French frigate D-653 Longdong, as they approached the Persian Gulf. This operation involved covert and continuous surveillance. The army's strategic naval forces employed a variety of intelligence-gathering tools, both manned and unmanned, encompassing aerial, surface, and underwater systems. Additionally, videos showcasing the American aircraft carrier and its accompanying destroyers, with detailed footage, were circulated through social networks linked to Iran and Hezbollah.
In another part of the interview, Tangsiri emphasized the longstanding presence of Americans in the Persian Gulf and advised them to act sensibly. "The Americans have been in the Persian Gulf for a long time. It's prudent for them to behave rationally. In recent years, there hasn't been a single incident of their vessels entering our waters. When the Americans are in the Persian Gulf, they know they are in a confined space, with the entrance – the Strait of Hormuz – under our control. They are within the range of our missiles. They avoid any challenge or confrontation with us.".
Tangsiri remarked on the ineffectiveness of the American fleet's presence in the region. "Recalling the day we detained 10 American aggressor forces near the Persian island, with two aircraft carriers, 150 aircraft, and five destroyers in the Persian Gulf, Their presence only seems to embolden the other side."
On January 12, 2016, two riverine command boats (RCBs) of the United States Navy, carrying a total of nine male and one female crew members, veered off course into Iranian territorial waters near Farsi Island in the Persian Gulf while en route from Kuwait to Bahrain. These waters extend three nautical miles around Farsi Island. IRGCN patrol craft patrol craft intercepted and captured the boats.
Subsequently, the crew was detained at a military base on Farsi Island. Iran disseminated various photos and videos, which included scenes of the U.S. Navy sailors kneeling with their hands interlocked behind their heads during the moment of their capture on their boats. The sailors engaged in a short conversation with the Iranian military and were subsequently set free without harm 15 hours after their capture. The Obama administration praised their release, viewing it as an unexpected advantage of the newly established diplomatic relations...
Tangsiri concluded by highlighting Iran's resilience and determination. "We pioneered resistance and withstood the [Iraqi] enemy for eight years. The Iranian nation will never submit to its foes, as we acknowledge no authority higher than God. There were times when we encountered three aircraft carriers and 80 destroyers in the Persian Gulf and seized various ships during these encounters."
Alireza Tangsiri's statements exude a tone of confidence and defiance, emphasizing Iran's ability to confront and discourage U.S. naval activities in the Persian Gulf. So far, despite various confrontational incidents and actions by the IRGCN, the United States has consistently avoided engaging in military actions with Iran in the region.
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