Iran Navy Says It Is Waiting To Sink US Warships That Approach The Strait Of Hormuz

A Commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has challenged U.S .warships to enter the Strait of Hormuz and see for themselves who controls the strategic waterway.

Rear Admiral Ali Azmaei said that the IRGC Navy is waiting for U.S. Navy ships to reach the entrance of the Strait so that Iran can sink them, adding that Tehran is looking forward to the encounter.

He also said that U.S. ships do not approach the waterway due to their inherent vulnerabilities, citing that a U.S. Navy carrier had sailed and positioned itself 700 kilometres away from the Strait.

Azmaei said that if America wants to test whether the Strait is open or closed, they can enter it and see who controls Hormuz.

He highlighted that two vessels that violated Iranian conditions on crossing the Strait of Hormuz were punished, and he blamed the U.S. and its partners in the West for preventing information on the incidents from going out.

Iran said that the IRGC Navy controls the Strait of Hormuz while the regular navy controls the Gulf of Oman.

Azmaei claimed that Iran has been issuing permits to commercial vessels sailing to and from the Islamic Republic and those of allies and friends who meet the conditions set forth by Tehran regarding the use of the strategic Strait.

He also clarified that Iran is better prepared to face its adversaries than it was when the war began following U.S. and Israeli strikes on the country in February.

Iran has warned ships against using routes it categorises as unauthorised for transit, although the U.S. has repeatedly said that Hormuz remains open to navigation

Recent attacks on ships in and around the waterway have heightened tensions between the two countries as the war continues with no peace agreement in sight.