IRGC Warns US To Leave Persian Gulf Region

Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Commander-in-Chief Major General Hossein Salami speaks during an exercise in Abu Musa Island, in this picture obtained on August 2, 2023.
Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Commander-in-Chief Major General Hossein Salami speaks during an exercise in Abu Musa Island, in this picture obtained on August 2, 2023.

Amid continuing tensions in the Persian Gulf, the IRGC commander reiterated Tehran's demand for the United States to leave the region.

Gen. Hossein Salami claimed the countries of the region are capable of establishing the security of the Persian Gulf.

Tensions in the Persian Gulf heightened on Wednesday as the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) initiated unexpected military exercises on three Persian Gulf Islands disputed by the United Arab Emirates.

Salami speaking about security in the region stated, "The regional states are capable of establishing the security of the Persian Gulf based on Islamic brotherhood and loyalty, without the need for the presence of US or its allies."

The military exercise, conducted by the IRGC Navy, saw the participation of operational combat units, boats, missiles, drones, electronic warfare, and rapid response forces.

During the exercise, the IRGC unveiled two "advanced weapons systems" - the Qadir cruise missile and the Fath 360 ballistic missile, both claimed to be equipped with artificial intelligence capabilities. Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) allegedly with AI capacity were also deployed, successfully destroying predetermined targets.

The operationalization and equipping of new IRGC boats with missiles, with a range of 600 km, was another part of the exercise.

The IRGC's military maneuvers were primarily centered around Abu Musa Island, with additional troop landings on the Greater Tunb Island, the islands disputed by the UAE.

The United States has boosted its military presence in the region following Iran's attempts to interfere with maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz and its surrounding waters.

In response to the US deployment, Salami issued a warning, stating, "Our nation is vigilant, and it gives harsh responses to all threats, complicated seditions, secret scenarios, and hostilities."