Iranian Naval Deployment to Latin America Should Concern U.S.

A senior Iran official announced that the country would be sending warships to what he described as “friendly states” in Latin America. Iran claims this is a means to further develop their naval capabilities, but in reality it’s an intimidation tactic aimed at the US and the Obama administration.

This is consistent Iran’s declaration that they want to expand and upgrade their navy, which includes utilizing high-speed missile boats and having a greater presence in international waters.  The news of Iran’s naval expansion into Latin American waters was first reported by Israel National News on April 2, 2016.

Iran has long standing relations in Latin America, and has used them for the benefit of Hezbollah cells involved in the narco-terrorism trade and for insertion of IRGC  and Iranian intelligence assets.

Iranian Army Commander Major General Atatollah Salehi held a press conference in regards to Iran’s military expansion. He remarked, “We intend to take a longer stride in marine voyages and even go towards friendly states in Latin America. The Navy is capable of deploying in that region.”

Iran announced the expansion of its naval fleet last month just after US Secretary of State John Kerry reprimanded them about repeated ballistic missile testing breaches, and sanctions implemented by the US and United Nations (UN). In 2013 Secretary Kerry publicly declared an end to the long standing Monroe Doctrine, which established a tradition of American opposition to Latin American interventions by foreign powers,

Iran’s Naval Commander Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari claimed that sanctions put on Iran by the US and other countries will fail to deter Iran from protecting its maritime borders. In addition, Admiral Sayyari firmly stated, “That Iran would pay no heed to foreign talks about Iran’s maneuvers aimed at enhancing its defensive powers.”

Iran has repeatedly reassured other nations that its military might poses no threat to other states, insisting that Iran’s defense doctrine is based on deterrence, but Iran has repeatedly used its Naval forces to aggressively provoke retaliation from the US.

This past January, Iran captured a US Naval vessel in Iranian waters, and held the crew prisoner for several days. Iran demanded an apology from the United States for what they deemed to be intrusion by the US Navy, the Obama administration appealed to their wishes.

Iran has a history of hostile activity towards foreign vessels including firing upon the Saudi-based MV Maersk Tigris that made a distress call to other vessels in the Persian Gulf. Another act of hostility came when a United Arab Emirate (UAE) coast guard had to assist a Singapore vessel that was being fired upon by four Iranian gunboats.

Iran has used its navy as a means to challenge the US and Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy Forces Brigadier Major General Ali Fadavi admitted in May 2014 that IRGC’s main goal was to sink US aircraft carriers. He warned the US to leave the Persian Gulf, and boasted that Iran could destroy the American fleet in 50 seconds.

Continued Iranian provocation has been met with little response by the Obama administration which appears more concerned with maintaining the nuclear deal regardless of Iranian behavior.