TEHRAN: Iran’s powerful Revolutionary Guard began military exercises yesterday in the country’s south, the latest show of force after threats to close the strategic Strait of Hormuz in retaliation for tougher Western sanctions. Plans for new Iranian naval games in the Arabian Gulf off the country’s southern coast have been in the works for weeks. State media announced new maneuvers in southern Iran involving ground forces, but it was not immediately clear whether they were part of the planned naval training missions scheduled for this month or a separate operation.
Meanwhile, Iranian naval ships docked yesterday in the Saudi port city of Jeddah on a mission to project the Islamic republic’s “power on the open seas”, the Fars news agency reported. The supply ship Kharg and Shaid Qandi, a destroyer, docked in the Red Sea port in line with orders from Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, it quoted navy commander Admiral Habibollah Sayari as saying. “This mission aims to show the power of the Islamic republic of Iran on the open seas and to confront Iranophobia,” he said, adding that the mission started several days ago and would last 70 to 80 days. The commander did not give other destinations.
Iran’s navy has been boosting its presence in international waters since last year, deploying vessels in the Indian Ocean and Gulf of Aden on missions to protect Iranian ships from Somali pirates. Tehran also sent two ships into the Mediterranean for the first time in Feb 2011 through the Suez Canal. Ties between Iran and Saudi Arabia, which have long been strained, deteriorated in late 2011 following US allegations that a foiled plot to assassinate the Saudi ambassador to Washington had been hatched in Tehran.
Iran has also begun mass production of an anti-ship cruise missile, state television’s website said yesterday. The Zafar missile, as it is dubbed in the report, “is a short-range, anti-ship cruise missile capable of destroying small- and medium-sized targets with high precision”. It can be mounted on speed boats and other light vessels, can withstand electronic warfare, and is able to fly in low altitudes to avoid detection, the report said. Iran has a fleet of speedboats that often challenge US and allied warships in the Gulf. The vessels are usually controlled by the elite Revolutionary Guards and can be equipped with missiles. The Islamic republic says it has a wide range of missiles. It says some are capable of striking targets inside Israel as well as Middle Eastern military bases of its other main archfoe, the United States.
The latest military maneuvers got under way following stern warnings by Khamenei, about any possible US or Israeli attacks against Tehran’s nuclear facilities. It also comes after Western forces boosted their naval presence in the Gulf led by the American aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln. Iran officials and lawmakers have repeatedly said that their country would close the Strait of Hormuz at the mouth of the Arabian Gulf in retaliation for sanctions that affect Iran’s oil exports. They have as yet made no attempts to disrupt shipping through the waterway, the route for one-fifth of the world’s crude oil, and the US and allies have said they would respond swiftly to any attempts at a blockade.
Last month, Iran’s navy wrapped up 10 days of exercises in the Gulf, but the Revolutionary Guard – which is directly under control of the supreme leader – represents a significantly stronger military force and controls key programs such as missile development. Iranian state media announced the new maneuvers, but gave no further details.
Khamenei, in a speech nationally broadcast on Friday, staked out a hard line after suggestions by Israel that military strikes are an increasing possibility if sanctions fail to rein in the Islamic Republic’s nuclear program. He pledged to aid any nation or group that challenges Israel and said any military strikes would damage US interests in the Middle East “10 times” more than they would hurt Iran. The comments also may signal that Tehran’s proxy forces – led by Lebanon’s Islamic militant group Hezbollah – could be given the green light to revive attacks on Israel as the showdown between the archfoes intensifies.
Iran’s oil minister repeated claims that an EU oil embargo will not cripple Iran’s economy, claiming yesterday that the country already has identified new customers to replace the loss in European sales that accounted for about 18 percent of Iran’s exports. Rostam Qassemi also reinforced Iran’s warning to Saudi Arabia and other fellow OPEC members against boosting production to offset any potential drop in Tehran’s crude exports, saying the cartel should not be used as a political weapon against a member state. “We are hopeful Saudi Arabia would respond positively to our just demand,” Qassemi said.
“We will not abandon our just nuclear course, even if we cannot sell one drop of oil,” Qassemi also told reporters. He said Iran would cut oil exports to some nations in Europe – he did not specify which – in retaliation for the 27-state EU’s decision to stop importing Iranian crude. “Our oil exports will certainly be cut to some European countries … We will decide about other European countries later,” Qassemi told a news conference. He urged Europe to reconsider its ban, and said the oil market is in balance now but would be thrown into turmoil without Iranian crude supplies.
“Unfortunately the EU has succumbed to America’s pressure. I hope they would review their decision on sanctioning Iran’s oil exports,” Qasemi said. “The international crude market will experience turmoil in the absence of Iranian oil with unforeseen consequences on oil prices,” he said. Qassemi said the ban would not disrupt the state’s oil transactions. “We have different ways to receive our oil money, which is not always necessarily through the central bank, like using banks in friendly countries,” he said without elaborating. The minister also dismissed reports of Iran selling its oil in lower prices.” No country has asked for a discount. We are selling our oil based on global market prices. If necessary, we would be willing to engage in barter trade.”
Although Israel has raised the strongest hints that it is likely to start a military campaign, Khamenei reserved some of his strongest comments for Israel’s key US ally. “A war itself will damage the US 10 times” more in the region, said Khamenei. Khamenei claimed Iran, however, could only emerge stronger. “Iran will not withdraw. Then what happens?” asked Khamenei. “In conclusion, the West’s hegemony and threats will be discredited” in the Middle East. “The hegemony of Iran will be promoted. In fact, this will be in our service.”
At Ramstein Air Base in Germany, US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said sanctions remain the best approach to pressure Iran. But he told US airmen Friday that Washington keeps “all options on the table and would be prepared to respond if we have to”. Khamenei answered by repeating Iran’s declarations that it will never roll back its nuclear program, which he had earlier said was now part of the country’s “identity” and a cornerstone of its technological endeavors. On Friday, Iran said it successfully sent a small satellite into orbit in the third such launch in recent years, state media reported. “From now on, in any place, if any nation or any group confronts the Zionist regime, we will endorse and we will help. We have no fear expressing this,” said Khamenei, using the phrase widely used by Iran’s leader to describe Israel. – Agencies
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