Following the American strike in Iran (June 22) targeting nuclear sites (Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan) and the continued Israeli attacks, the question arises: will Iran choose to escalate and close the Strait of Hormuz?
The Strait of Hormuz falls under the joint military responsibility of Iran’s two naval forces: the Iranian Army Navy (IRIN) and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy (IRGCN). Among the two, the IRGCN holds more numerous and better-equipped forces in the area and wields greater influence. The main headquarters of the IRGCN is located at the Bandar Abbas base on the shores of the Strait of Hormuz. The IRGCN’s operational maritime space in the Arabic Gulf is divided into five distinct geographic zones. Each zone commander oversees several bases and ports, along with various operational units under their command. These include, among others, coastal defense units, coastal-to-sea missile systems, air defense units, and surface vessels. The “First Operational Zone” encompasses the Bandar Abbas–Strait of Hormuz area and is the largest of the five zones. Its primary mission is to monitor and control maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic area for Iran (and globally) due to its significance in international oil and gas trade. Another key mission is to defend the civilian port area of Bandar Abbas, a major Iranian export hub. Since 2016, the commander of the “First Zone” has been General Abbas Gholamshahi, with headquarters at the Shahid Bahonar Port near Bandar Abbas. The strategic importance of the strait to global maritime traffic provides Iran with a significant lever of pressure against the international community to pursue its objectives and goals.
