IRGC Commander Highlights Iran's Full Control over Southern Waters

“An unparalleled power has been gained (by Iranian forces), which we do not want to test on the ground,” General Jafari said on the sidelines of the massive military drills staged by the IRGC Navy in the Persian Gulf, south of Iran, on Wednesday.

“But if, God forbid, that day comes (the day of real war), definitely the Sea of Oman, the Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf will be under full control of the Iranian naval forces,” he added.

The naval exercises, codenamed The Great Prophet-9, are underway in the Strait of Hormuz, known as the most strategic waterway in the Persian Gulf.

Pointing to the progress of the military drills, the commander said, “Thanks God, all missiles launched during the exercises have hit the targets and were successfully test-fired.”

General Jafari also made assurances that all of the military drills are staged with the aim of ensuring peace and security in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz.

Other high-ranking Iranian military officials are also in the area during the first stage of the drills, including Deputy Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Major General Gholam Ali Rashid and IRGC Navy Commander Rear Admiral Ali Fadavi. Iran’s Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani has also travelled to the area.

Hundreds of speedboats, armed with missiles, have been deployed to take action in the drills.

During the first stage of the war game on Wednesday morning, the IRGC speedboats carried out mine-laying operation in the Strait of Hormuz area.

The Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway between Iran and Oman, connects the Persian Gulf with the Sea of Oman.

It is the only sea passage from the Persian Gulf to the high seas and is one of the world's most strategically-important choke points.