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Iran’s Revolutionary Guards commander, Hossein Salami, has declared a commitment to extending Iran’s military influence to confront perceived “enemies” near and far amidst escalating tensions on vital shipping routes.

During a ceremony in the Gulf port city of Bandar Abbas, where the Guards’ navy introduced a new ship, “Abu Mahdi,” and 100 missile launchers, Salami emphasized the ongoing battle with adversaries, though he did not specify who these enemies were. Commander Salami said, “We need to defend our national interests to wherever they extend.”

Salami’s comments come as a US-led coalition of 22 nations aims to protect commercial traffic in the Red Sea from attacks by Yemen’s Houthi movement, which is backed by Iran and has shown solidarity with Hamas through recent attacks. These hostilities have prompted many major shipping companies to reroute around Africa’s Cape of Good Hope, avoiding the Suez Canal, a critical trade passage.

As highlighted by Salami, the Revolutionary Guards’ navy has significantly “advanced its offensive and defensive capabilities,” positioning itself to challenge the world’s naval powers. This assertion coincides with reports from Iranian media that the Alborz warship recently entered the Red Sea to “secure shipping routes.”