"Our Armed Forces should always increase their preparedness without considering political calculations and make strategic plans by identifying their weak points as well as assessment of enemy's possibilities and weak points," Ayatollah Khamenei said in a meeting with Iran's Navy Commander Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari and other Navy commanders and officials in Tehran on Sunday.
He lauded the Iranian Navy's power and capabilities, and said, "The Navy should continue its great and important role in safeguarding national security, overall defense and the country's strong fence by updating and increasing preparedness and military capabilities and strengthening their belief, motivations and spirit of devotion."
Elsewhere, Ayatollah Khamenei referred to the country's long water borders with other countries and the enemies' extensive investment in those regions, and underlined the necessity for the further development of Makran coastline in Southeastern Iran.
Earlier this month, Admiral Sayyari had underlined the Iranian armed forces' might and readiness to give a crushing response to any kind of aggression by the country's enemies.
“The Islamic Republic Armed Forces, including the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC), the Army, the Basij (volunteer force), and the police forces are ready to defend the country's territories against enemies under the command of Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei,” the Iranian commander underscored.
He went on to say that not only the Iranian armed forces, but also, the entire Iranian youth were ready to defend the country under the command of their leader.
Also this month, IRGC Navy Commander Rear Admiral Ali Fadavi underlined that the IRGC Navy had developed its tactics and strategies to become fully prepared to defend Iran against enemies' threats.
Admiral Fadavi highlighted the capabilities of the IRGC naval forces in maritime battles, adding that the Islamic Republic of Iran pursued the withdrawal of US forces from the Persian Gulf.
The IRGC is responsible for the security of the Persian Gulf. In 2008, Major General Yahya Rahim Safavi, former commander of the IRGC and the current military advisor to the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution, declared that the responsibility for defending the Persian Gulf had been handed over to the IRGC.
He warned that the IRGC would seal the strategic Strait of Hormuz in case the US launches any attack on Iran's nuclear installations.
Iran's naval power has even been acknowledged by foes. In a Sep. 11, 2008 report, the Washington Institute for the Near East Policy said that in the two decades since the Iraqi imposed war on Iran, the IRGC has excelled in naval capabilities and is able to wage unique asymmetric warfare against larger naval forces.
According to the report, the IRGC Navy has been transformed into a highly motivated, well-equipped, and well-financed force and is effectively in control of the world's oil lifeline, the Strait of Hormuz.
The study says that if Washington takes military action against the Iran, the scale of the country's response would likely be proportional to the scale of the damage inflicted on the Iranian assets.
