Special to WorldTribune.com

NICOSIA — Iran has reported the close tracking of the U.S. Navy in
the Gulf.

A senior Iranian commander said the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps
has been following U.S. Navy patrols in the Gulf.

(Related story: Iran announces blockade of Strait of Hormuz and claims U.S. is complying, April 22)

The commander said IRGC tracked an unidentified U.S. aircraft carrier at a distance of less than a kilometer.

“Units of IRGC’s 2nd Navy Command have recorded a 50-minute video of a U.S. aircraft carrier from a distance of 500 meters,” Rear Adm. Ali Razmjou, head of the command, said.

In an address in Bushehr on May 19, Razmjou provided few details of the U.S. aircraft carrier. This marked the second time in less than six months that Teheran reported close monitoring of vessels of the U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet in the Gulf.

“This demonstrates just a small portion of the power and success of IRGC in the Gulf,” Razmjou said.

U.S. Navy commanders have acknowledged Iran’s growing presence in the Gulf. They said IRGC, responsible for Iranian operations in the Gulf, was becoming increasingly confident as it received fast attack craft and
miniature submarines to monitor Western ships around the Strait of Hormuz.

In April 2012, IRGC said Iran would not allow any ship to enter Hormuz
without permission. IRGC Navy chief Ali Fadavi said this included U.S.
warships, which consisted of two aircraft battle groups, in the region.

“Today, Americans admit and acknowledge that the Persian Gulf is under
the tight control of the IRGC Navy,” Fadavi said.

  Iran’s IRGC reports closely tracking U.S. Navy operations in Gulf, IRGC Navy chief Ali Fadavi, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Rear Adm. Ali Razmjou, Strait of Hormuz, U.S. Navy Fifth Fleet