Israel Matzav: Iranian Revolutionary Guard takes over Persian Gulf defense

Iranian Revolutionary Guard takes over Persian Gulf defense

The Iranian Revolutionary Guard has taken over the defense of the Persian Gulf after a significant upgrade in its capabilities over the last two years.

Iran has restructured its naval forces to give an arm of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard full responsibility for operations in the strategic Persian Gulf in the event of a conflict, according to a new U.S. intelligence study.

The concentration of fast attack boats and cruise missiles in and along the Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy, known as the IRGCN, "better allow Iranian naval assets to contribute to and extend Iran's layered defense strategy," the U.S. Office of Naval Intelligence said in the study, dated Fall 2009.

The Revolutionary Guard has gradually expanded its naval capabilities over the years by incorporating Chinese, North Korean and Italian designs and technology, both military and commercial, and it now deploys some of the fastest naval vessels in the Persian Gulf, the study said.

It said the Revolutionary Guard also reportedly wants to develop or acquire "unmanned" naval vessels.

As part of the reorganization, which began in 2007, the Islamic Republic of Iran Navy, or IRIN, has positioned its own naval assets further into the Gulf of Oman, according to the study, first disclosed by the Secrecy News Web site last week.

I get the sense that Iran is preparing for war. Unfortunately, the United States is not. Israel will have to fight alone, and once it engages Iran in combat, Iran will have unchallenged control of the Gulf.

What could go wrong?

Israel Matzav: Iranian Revolutionary Guard takes over Persian Gulf defense