Iran's IRGC navy warns US of response if warships move near Strait of Hormuz

Fears of a military confrontation between the United States and Iran have risen near the Strait of Hormuz, one of the most sensitive waterways in the Middle East. The US Navy has sharply increased its presence in the Arabian Sea and the Persian Gulf, and the navy of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has expressed strong displeasure.

IRGC navy commander Rear Admiral Ali Azmai has issued a clear warning to the US military. He said the Iranian forces have a firm hold over the entire maritime area. If the US takes any provocative or aggressive step, the Iranian forces will respond with equal intensity, he said.

Azmai also made a serious allegation against the US. According to him, the US is trying to take control of the natural resources and sea routes of the Middle East illegally. He said Iran keeps a close watch on every movement of foreign warships in the Persian Gulf, the Gulf of Oman and the Strait of Hormuz. Mocking the US, he said its warships worth billions of dollars would prove ineffective against Iran's military capability, and declared that Iranian forces are ready to stop American vessels.

The US Department of Defense, citing the protection of maritime trade routes and regional security, has put in place a strong naval cordon in the area. It is claimed that the US has deployed two major aircraft carriers, USS George Washington and USS George H.W. Bush. The carriers give the US the ability to fly fighter jets and carry out air strikes directly from the sea.

A fleet of guided-missile destroyers, cruisers and modern warships has also been assigned to protect and provide air defence for the carriers. It includes about 10 to 15 destroyers, among them USS Shoup (DDG-86), and amphibious assault ships such as USS Boxer (LHD-4). All of these vessels carry detachments of US Marine commandos and advanced missile defence systems capable of precision strikes from a distance.

To counter this strength, Iran has also readied five major weapons along its coast. First, fast attack boats: the IRGC has a large fleet of small, very fast, missile-armed boats used to swarm larger enemy vessels. Second, anti-ship missiles: Iran has advanced cruise missiles such as the "Abu Mahdi" and long-range shore-launched missiles.

Third, drones and suicide drones: these drones, which loiter in the air and then strike the target directly, are an important part of Iran's military strategy. Fourth, naval mines: Iran has the capability to lay mines in the narrow Strait of Hormuz and trap American ships and oil tankers. Fifth, mobile missile launchers and radar networks: launchers that can be hidden along the coast and sophisticated radar systems make sudden attacks easier for Iran.

The Strait of Hormuz is regarded as the world's most important oil chokepoint. About 20 to 30 per cent of the crude oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) used around the world passes through this one narrow sea route. If the route is closed or fighting breaks out in a US-Iran confrontation, the global energy market could be thrown into turmoil.

The confrontation would directly affect oil prices in the international market. The route is vital for Asian countries such as India, China and Japan, as most of their crude oil comes from the Middle East through it. If oil prices rise, inflation will go up and import-dependent economies such as India could come under heavy economic pressure.