TEHRAN -- Commander of Iran’s Air Defense Force Brigadier General Alireza Sabahi-Fard says the force’s radar and missile systems are at the ready at the mouth of the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman to protect those vital waterways against any hostile act.
The commander made the remarks in a Thursday inspection of Persian Gulf Security Operations Center (SOC), which is responsible for identification and steering of regional flights as well as interception of targets.
“All radar and missile systems of the Air Defense Force are ready for immediate use at the mouth of the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman,” Sabahi-Fard said, adding that Iran’s Air Defense Force has evolved from air protection phase into the higher stage of air superiority.
“The security of the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman is provided by Iran and the neighboring countries, and the Iranian Army’s Air Defense Force today has the ability to deal decisively and firmly with any mischief causing disturbance to this security,” he noted.
Despite various sanctions and restrictions, as Sabahi-Fard said, the progress of the country’s defense force in the field of design and construction of various radar and missile systems will be further reinforced, and certainly this strength and authority will not diminish.
The senior Iranian commander said a day earlier that the force is keeping “a watchful eye” on Iran’s strategic regions and will not allow any act of aggression by the enemy to go unnoticed.
The remarks come as tensions have simmered in the region after a suspected drone attack late last month on an Israeli-managed tanker off the Omani coast. Two crew members were killed in the attack, which was blamed on Iran by the United States, the occupying regime of Israel and Britain. Iran categorically denied the accusation.
Earlier this month, a Panama-flagged asphalt/bitumen tanker was also seized off the coast of the United Arab Emirates at the opening of the Strait of Hormuz — one of the world’s busiest waterways. Maritime sources accused Iran of being behind the potential hijack, which ended a day after the incident.
Iran has denied the accusations, warning against any attempt aimed at setting the ground for any new adventurism.