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Navy chief: Presence of extra-regional fleets in West Asia ‘unjustified’
Iran, Russia to hold naval drill in Sea of Oman today
Admiral Irani, commander of the Navy of the Iranian Army, told reporters in India on Wednesday that “the Islamic Republic of Iran has been facing threats, ranting and raving, propaganda, and the presence of extra-regional fleets in West Asia for 47 years.”
“If extra-regional fleets believe they have come with power, they should know that the Iranian people will confront them with even greater power,” in case of any act of aggression, Admiral Irani emphasized.
He traveled to India to participate in three events – namely the IONS (Indian Ocean Naval Symposium), the Milan 2026 Naval Exercise, and the International Fleet Review (IFR).
He also stressed that “the faith of the people and missiles of Iran's deterrent weapons are the ones that stand against the enemy.”
The United States has significantly increased its naval presence in West Asia, deploying the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln and multiple accompanying warships, destroyers, and air assets to the wider Middle East as tensions with Iran escalate.
US officials said on Friday that the Pentagon was sending an additional aircraft carrier to the region, adding thousands more troops along with fighter aircraft and guided-missile destroyers.
Tehran has viewed the move as a direct threat, with Iranian officials warning of strong retaliation if US forces act against Iranian interests.
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei said on Tuesday that weapons that can sink the American carriers are "more dangerous" than the warships.
“The American president [Donald Trump] repeatedly says that their military is the strongest in the world. The strongest military in the world, however, can sometimes be struck so hard that it cannot even get back on its feet,” Ayatollah Khamenei said.
“They keep saying, ‘We have sent an aircraft carrier toward Iran.’ Fine—an aircraft carrier is certainly a dangerous piece of equipment. But more dangerous than the carrier is the weapon capable of sending it to the bottom of the sea,” he added.
On Thursday, Iran and Russia will conduct naval maneuvers in the Sea of Oman amid simmering tensions between Tehran and Washington.
“The joint naval exercise of the Islamic Republic of Iran and Russia will take place tomorrow (Thursday) in the Sea of Oman and in the northern Indian Ocean,” ISNA reported, citing drill spokesman, Rear Admiral Hassan Maghsoudloo.
“The aim is to strengthen maritime security and to deepen relations between the navies of the two countries,” he said.
The dills come two days after the IRGC conducted a two-day naval drill in the Strait of Hormuz, showcasing 24-hour “intelligence dominance” over the vital shipping route that links the Perian Gulf with the Sea of Oman.
The exercise, titled “Smart Control of the Strait of Hormuz,” involved rapid reaction units practicing counter-strikes against potential threats.