Iran’s naval drill marks humiliation anniversary in message to US admin
Iran says its navy and IRGC naval units are at the peak of their abilities.
By SETH J. FRANTZMANIRGC siezes ship near Bu Musa Island, Iran(photo credit: Wikimedia Commons)
Iran conducted a review of ships to mark the anniversary of the 2016 capture of US Marines.Some 700 boats participated in the rally to show off how Iran humiliated the US. The 2016 incident came after the Iran Deal and showed that Iran could detain and kidnap US sailors and soldiers without any retaliation.A naval “march was held in the vicinity of a strategic island early on Saturday, with the participation of more than 700 boats and military vessels from the IRGC Navy and the maritime Basij volunteer force,” Iran’s media said.Ramezan Zirahi, a senior commander with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, said the boats and vessels had traveled to Farsi Island from the southwestern coasts of Bushehr Province to partake in the naval march and mark the anniversary of the 2016 capture of the US Marines.Iran says its navy and IRGC naval units are at the peak of their abilities. Iran detained a South Korean tanker last week. Iran’s naval maneuver is supposed to show it can act with impunity and is a message to the incoming US administration.Iran wants to increase its activity at sea and to show foreign navies that they should be careful. Iran harasses, detains, mines and has even hijacked foreign ships in the last year.Iran is flexing its muscles, but its naval units are no match for the US Navy. Nevertheless, Iran says that they can protect the coast of Iran.The goal of the drill was to show off Iran’s power and also send a message to the US designed to remind it of the past humiliation. Iran also conducted drone drills recently and has shown off underground missile sites.Overall, the country is preparing to demand the US meets its deadlines in the Middle East, whether that is the end of sanctions or other demands.The 2016 incident was important because it joined other Iranian attempts to harass US ships. Iran wanted to show that despite the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, or “Iran Deal,” that it could still harass US ships with impunity, knowing the US would not risk a confrontation. Iran has done this to the ships of other countries, from the UK to Japan.
