IRGC Commander Threatens US Forces In The Persian Gulf

Radiofarda – The deputy Chief-Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps, Commodore Ali Fadavi, has threatened the arrival of United States forces in the Persian Gulf.

Referring to the presence of the USS Nimitz aircraft carrier in the Persian Gulf on September 18, Fadavi told Iran’s Arabic-language Al-Mayadeen news network on Wednesday, “They should come to the Persian Gulf because they will be within our reach.”

Al-Mayadeen aired Fadavi’s comments following the US’ decision to activate the “trigger mechanism,” which reactivates international sanctions against Iran.

Based on the trigger mechanism, all countries across the globe are obliged to inspect shipments to or from Iran, and, if necessary, seize the prohibited cargos.

However, Fadavi claimed that such measures are useless and would fail.

Renowned for his rhetoric concerning Washington, Fadavi warned, “If the Americans commit new folly, they will face an unimaginable force,” though he stopped short of elaborating on his threat.

Fadavi has welcomed American forces coming to the Persian Gulf at a time that the United States has already seven bases in the region: the Fifth Fleet Base in Bahrain; Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar; Thumrait Base in Oman; Sheikh Isa Air Base in Bahrain; Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait; Ahmed Al-Jaber Base in Kuwait; and Al-Dhafra Air Base in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

To strengthen American forces’ presence in the Persian Gulf, the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet also announced the Nimitz aircraft carrier’s arrival in the Persian Gulf on September 18.

IRGC news sources maintained on Wednesday that “since the arrival of the Nimitz and its accompanying fleet in the Persian Gulf,” all movements of them have been monitored by the IRGC’s naval drones. “

On September 21, the US imposed new sanctions on Iran’s Ministry of Defense and other sectors involved in Iran’s nuclear and weapons program via the trigger mechanism, enforcing the reimposition of all United Nations sanctions against Tehran.

Various countries have opposed reimposing UN sanctions, though US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has warned that if UN member states do not fulfill their obligations to implement these sanctions, Washington is ready to use its domestic authority to act against them.

Pompeo has also stated that the US will announce a plethora of additional measures to strengthen UN sanctions and hold violators accountable.

Furthermore, the US has also recently strengthened its regional coalition against Iran by laying the groundwork for establishing diplomatic relations between the United Arab Emirates, Israel and Bahrain.

Fadavi has also dismissed the rapprochement between Israel and the two Arab countries as a “timeworn move and effort,” adding that the US would never succeed in forming a new coalition against Iran.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh also recently said that in the event of a possible US attack, the Iran’s response would be “pounding and with no hesitation.”

Citing Article 51 of the UN Charter, he added that the Iranian government would pursue “legitimate defense” in such events.

However, no report or comment has been released in recent days on the possibility of a US military strike on Iran.