Article

2010-06-06 Syria-Lebanon-Iran

Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards are ready to provide a military escort to cargo ships trying to break Israel's blockade of Gaza, a representative of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Sunday.

"Iran's Revolutionary Guards naval forces are fully prepared to escort the peace and freedom convoys to Gaza with all their powers and capabilities," Ali Shirazi, Khamenei's representative inside the Revolutionary Guards, was quoted as saying by the semi-official Mehr news agency.

Any intervention by the Iranian military would be considered highly provocative by Israel which accuses Iran of supplying weapons to Hamas, the Islamist movement which rules Gaza.
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The Guards, with their own navy, air force and command structure separate from the regular armed forces, are seen as fiercely loyal to the values of the Islamic Republic.

"If the Supreme Leader issues an order for this then the Revolutionary Guard naval forces will do their best to secure the ships," Shirazi said. "It is Iran's duty to defend the innocent people of Gaza."

Posted by tipper 2010-06-06 13:03|| || Front Page|| [16 views ] Top

#1 not gonna happen. Islamo-boasting

Posted by Frank G 2010-06-06 13:21|| 2010-06-06 13:21|| Front Page Top

#2 Hey, no problem. Competition always brings out the best, right? Grudge match: Turkey vs Iran. I am here to take bets all day.

Posted by Alaska Paul 2010-06-06 13:43|| 2010-06-06 13:43|| Front Page Top

#3 Photo from "The Long War Journal"

An IRGC Navy fast attack speed boat (near boat). Image from Fars News

Posted by Goodluck Smock1954 2010-06-06 14:27|| 2010-06-06 14:27|| Front Page Top

#4 Additional information on Iranian Naval Power may be found at the folowing link:

Link

The Iranian Naval vessels will transit the Suez Canal to reach the Mediterranean Sea and on to Turkey.

Posted by Goodluck Smock1954 2010-06-06 14:54|| 2010-06-06 14:54|| Front Page Top

Posted by Butch Huparong3739 2010-06-06 15:02|| 2010-06-06 15:02|| Front Page Top

#6 Sounds like the Iranians have been taking lessons from Hugo Chavez.

Posted by ed 2010-06-06 15:54|| 2010-06-06 15:54|| Front Page Top

#7 1. I don't think very many ships in the IRGC fleet can actually travel to the Mediterranean without frequent refueling even using the Suez canal.

2. I doubt whether Egypt would allow these craft passage through the Suez canal. In fact, Iranian ships trying to make this journey would be seen a provocation against the Arab world by Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and others.

Posted by lord garth 2010-06-06 16:16|| 2010-06-06 16:16|| Front Page Top

#8 Operation EMARP (Eastern Mediterranean Artificial Reef Project)

Posted by Halliburton - Mysterious Conspiracy Division 2010-06-06 16:24|| 2010-06-06 16:24|| Front Page Top

#9 Jeebus, think of the oil-slick coming off the crews

Posted by Frank G 2010-06-06 16:29|| 2010-06-06 16:29|| Front Page Top

#10 Oh, Frank!

Iran may be out of position, but Turkey is not. And while driving ships you want to keep into Israeli air cover is a bad idea, it might be just the thing to kick off the festivities everyone seems to be gearing up for.

Posted by SteveS 2010-06-06 18:03|| 2010-06-06 18:03|| Front Page Top

#11 It wouldn't be surprising if Turkey sold some vessels to, say, Iranian Customs or oil ministry, and the hulls get 'transferred' to the IRGC.

Posted by Pappy 2010-06-06 20:21|| 2010-06-06 20:21|| Front Page Top

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