The Strait of Hormuz Under Pressure: Asymmetric Naval War and Signs of Elite Fragmentation in Iran
The US Central Command has destroyed or disabled dozens of Iran's conventional naval platforms, but Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) remains a threat to the Strait of Hormuz using asymmetric naval tactics. The IRGC has seized two container vessels and targeted a third, and is seeking to levy transit fees on ships passing through the strait.
The US Central Command has inflicted significant losses on Iran's conventional naval assets. Despite this, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) continues to threaten the Strait of Hormuz. The IRGC has seized two container vessels attempting to exit the Gulf and targeted a third. Iran is also seeking to levy transit fees on ships passing through the strait, potentially complicating international maritime traffic. The IRGC's asymmetric naval inventory, built for combat operations in the Strait of Hormuz, remains largely intact. The IRGC's strategy involves a 'mosquito fleet' concept, using fast, armed crafts and low-signature auxiliaries, as well as unmanned systems and anti-ship ballistic and cruise missiles. The IRGC Navy has designed a force-generation pattern built around dispersion, speed, and volume, using inexpensive and highly mobile vessels.
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