The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) has opened a new naval base at Sirik, a coastal Iranian town east of the strategic Strait of Hormuz in the Persian Gulf.

The new base, named after Martyr Rahbari, was launched in a Wednesday ceremony attended by IRGC Chief Commander Major General Hossein Salami.

The base, whose construction started six years ago, has been built in an area of 31 hectares with the aim of giving the country full control over the arrival and departure of ultra-regional vessels in the Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, and the Sea of Oman.

Addressing the opening ceremony, General Salami said the naval base has been built in the country’s most strategic region, and serves both defensive and offensive purposes in the strategic region of Gulf and Strait of Hormuz.

“With the opening and unveiling of this base, the country’s combat operations, ship operations, reconnaissance as well as defensive and offensive operations in the Persian Gulf will further develop,” he added.

The naval base was opened a few days after a US aircraft carrier for the first time in ten months sailed through the Strait of Hormuz and entered into the waters of the Gulf, as Washington has threatened to illegally extend an expiring arms embargo on Iran.

The US 5th Fleet said in a statement that the strike group led by the USS Nimitz and including two guided-missile cruisers and a guided-missile destroyer sailed into the Gulf to operate and train with US partners.

In another ceremony on Wednesday, the naval fleet of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps received 188 combat drones and helicopters developed by Iranian aviation experts.

Source: Agenceis