{{Short description|Maritime service branch of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps}} {{About|the navy of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps|the navy of Iran's regular military|Islamic Republic of Iran Navy}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}} {{infobox military unit | unit_name = Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy | native_name = {{lang|fa|نیروی دریایی سپاه پاسداران انقلاب اسلامی}} | image = Flag of the Navy of the Army of the Guardians of the Islamic Revolution.svg | caption = Flag | start_date = {{start date and age|1985|09|17|df=y|p=y}}<ref>{{Citation|last1=Sinkaya|first1=Bayram|year =2015|title=The Revolutionary Guards in Iranian Politics: Elites and Shifting Relations|publisher=Routledge|page=121|isbn=978-1317525646}}</ref> | country = {{flag|Iran|1980}} | allegiance = {{flagicon|Islamic Republic of Iran}} Iran | branch = | type = Navy<br />maritime land force | role = Naval warfare<br />amphibious warfare | size = +20,000 (2020)<ref name="IISS2020">{{cite book|author=The International Institute of Strategic Studies (IISS)|title=The Military Balance 2020|year=2020|publisher=Routledge|chapter=Middle East and North Africa|volume=120|number=1|isbn=9780367466398|doi=10.1080/04597222.2020.1707968|pages=348–352|s2cid=219624897}}</ref> | command_structure = Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps | garrison = Tehran<ref name="Haghshenass">{{citation|first=Fariborz|last=Haghshenass|title=Iran's Asymmetric Naval Warfare|url=https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/uploads/Documents/pubs/PolicyFocus87.pdf|type=Policy Focus|number=87|publisher=Washington Institute for Near East Policy|date=September 2008|access-date=6 February 2016|archive-date=17 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190417143929/https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/uploads/Documents/pubs/PolicyFocus87.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>{{rp|17}}<br>Bandar Abbas<ref name="ONI2017">{{citation|title=Iranian Naval Forces: A Tale of Two Navies|url=https://www.oni.navy.mil/Portals/12/Intel%20agencies/iran/Iran%20022217SP.pdf|publisher=Office of Naval Intelligence|date=February 2017|isbn=978-0160939686}}</ref>{{rp|15}} | garrison_label = Headquarters | nickname = | patron = | motto = | colors = | colors_label = | march = | mascot = | equipment = {{plainlist| * {{circa}} 126 surface warfare vessels * 5 amphibious vessels * 3 auxiliary ships * 3,000–5,000 speedboats * 58–78 helicopters }} | equipment_label = Fleet | battles = {{tree list}} * Iran–Iraq War ** Tanker war ** Bridgeton incident * 2004 Iranian seizure of Royal Navy personnel * 2007 Iranian arrest of Royal Navy personnel * 2008 Iran–United States naval dispute * 2015 seizure of ''Maersk Tigris'' * 2016 United States–Iran naval incident * 2019 seizure of ''Stena Impero'' * 2024 Iran–Israel conflict ** Seizure of the MSC Aries * Twelve-Day War * 2026 Iran war {{tree list/end}} | anniversaries = | History = | decorations = | battle_honours = | disbanded = | flying_hours = | website = | commander1 = ''Vacant'' | identification_symbol = 150px | identification_symbol_label = Ensign | identification_symbol_2_label = Flag | identification_symbol_3 = | identification_symbol_3_label = }}
The '''Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy''' ('''IRGCN'''; {{langx|fa|نیروی دریایی سپاه پاسداران انقلاب اسلامی|niru-ye daryâyi-e sepâh-e pâsdârân-e enghelâb-e eslâmi}}; officially abbreviated in Persian as '''NEDSA''' and also known as the '''Sepah Navy''') is the naval warfare service of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps was founded in 1985, and one of the two maritime forces of Iran, parallel to the conventional Iranian Navy.<ref name="The Iran Primer"/>
In contrast to a conventional Navy, the IRGC Navy follows a distinct doctrine, training system, and equipment structure, prioritizing asymmetric maritime warfare through the use of small fast-attack craft, anti-ship missiles, naval mines, and hit-and-run and swarm tactics rather than traditional naval engagements, and is often described as a “guerrilla navy.”<ref>{{citation|url=http://www.mei.edu/content/artesh-iran%E2%80%99s-marginalized-and-under-armed-conventional-military|title=The Artesh: Iran's Marginalized and Under-Armed Conventional Military|access-date=15 December 2015|publisher=Middle East Institute|date= 15 November 2011|author=Hossein Aryan}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Iran navy heightens security in Gulf territorial waters|url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2017-03/01/c_136092401.htm|website=news.xinhuanet.com|publisher=Xinhua|access-date=26 July 2017|language=en|date=1 March 2017}}</ref><ref name=":0" /> The IRGC Navy also acts as Iran's ''de facto'' coast guard and maintains several Marine infantry units, including a naval ''Takavar'' battalion, called Sepah Navy Special Force (SNSF).
The Basij Navy has been established with a force of 55,000 sailors and 33,000 boats covering an area from the Persian Gulf to Tanzania, Dar es Salaam, and Zanzibar.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-12-19 |title=IRGC Navy recruits 55,000 naval Basij forces |url=https://en.mehrnews.com/news/209737/IRGC-Navy-recruits-55-000-naval-Basij-forces |access-date=2025-12-08 |website=Mehr News Agency |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2025-10-06 |title=The IRGC Navy’s long-term strategy of asymmetrical warfare :: Note de la FRS :: Foundation for Strategic Research :: FRS |url=https://www.frstrategie.org/en/publications/notes/irgc-navy-s-long-term-strategy-asymmetrical-warfare-2024 |access-date=2025-12-08 |website=www.frstrategie.org |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-12-19 |title=Marine Basij a shadow navy: commander |url=https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/492696/Marine-Basij-a-shadow-navy-commander |access-date=2025-12-08 |website=Tehran Times |language=en}}</ref>
==Name== The forces are known with their official abbreviation in Persian, "NEDSA".<ref name="Seliktar"/> In maritime radio communications, it is addressed as "Sepah Navy".<ref>{{citation|title=Iran forces warned off UK warship during tanker seizure – audio|url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/iran-forces-warned-off-uk-warship-during-tanker-seizure-audio/|date=29 July 2019|access-date=1 August 2020|work=The Times of Israel}}</ref>
==History== {{see also|Naval history of Iran}}
===Iran–Iraq War (1985–1988)=== thumb|280px|IRGC speedboats in the ''Shahadat Maritime Manoeuvre'' (1987) {{see also|Tanker War|Operation Praying Mantis}} On 17 September 1985, Iran's supreme leader and commander-in-chief Ruhollah Khomeini ordered Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to create three branches including navy.<ref name="Sinkaya">{{Citation|last1=Sinkaya|first1=Bayram|year =2015|title=The Revolutionary Guards in Iranian Politics: Elites and Shifting Relations|publisher=Routledge|page=121|isbn=978-1317525646}}</ref><ref name="Seliktar">{{citation|title=Iran, Revolution, and Proxy Wars|first1=Ofira|last1=Seliktar|first2=Farhad|last2=Rezaei|year=2019|page=222|isbn=9783030294182|publisher=Springer Nature}}</ref> Shortly afterwards, Hossein Alaei was appointed as the commander of the naval forces.<ref name="Seliktar"/> The navy was tasked to operate in the Persian Gulf and by 1987 were able to play an active role against Iraqi Navy in the Iran–Iraq War.<ref name="Sinkaya"/>
During the "Tanker War" phase of the Iran–Iraq War, beside the regular Iranian Navy, IRGC started employing swarm tactics and surprise attacks using Boghammar speedboats fitted with rocket launchers, RPGs, and heavy machine guns. Attacks on Kuwaiti tankers, an Iraqi ally, eventually dragged the US Navy into the Persian Gulf to escort Kuwaiti tankers. As a response, IRGC ordered mining west of Farsi Island on the route of the very first convoy—the Kuwaiti supertanker SS ''Bridgeton'' escorted by four US warships—which successfully hit the tanker itself.<ref name=Crist>{{cite book|last1=Crist|first1=David|title=The twilight war : the secret history of America's thirty-year conflict with Iran|date=2013|publisher=The Penguin Press|location=New York|isbn=978-1-101-57234-4|url=https://archive.org/stream/Americas100YearsWar/TheTwilightWar-TheSecretHistoryOfAmericasThirty-yearConflictWithIran_djvu.txt}}</ref><ref name="Gibson">{{cite book|last1=Gibson|first1=Bryan R|title=Covert Relationship: American Foreign Policy, Intelligence, and the Iran-Iraq War, 1980–1988 |date=2010|publisher=Praeger|isbn=978-0313386107|page=202|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IPv7XdBmPDcC&pg=PA202}}</ref>
The 1988 naval battle between Iran and the US, Operation Praying Mantis, resulted in 1 Iranian frigate being lost (45 crew members killed), 1 gunboat (11 crew members killed), 3 speedboats, and 2 platforms. The US suffered 2 casualties due to an AH-1T Sea Cobra crashing or being shot down.{{Citation needed|date=June 2021}}
===Engagements with the Royal Navy=== {{Main|2004 Iranian seizure of Royal Navy personnel|2007 Iranian seizure of Royal Navy personnel}}
On 21 June 2004, eight sailors and Royal Marines were seized by forces of the Revolutionary Guards' Navy while training Iraqi river patrol personnel in the Persian Gulf.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/low/middle_east/3077540.stm |title=Timeline: UK-Iran relations |publisher=BBC News|date=2007-03-23 |access-date=2007-03-28}}</ref> On 23 March 2007, fifteen sailors and Royal Marines from HMS ''Cornwall'' were seized by forces of the Revolutionary Guards' Navy in the Persian Gulf.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6484279.stm | work=BBC News | title=UK sailors captured at gunpoint | date=23 March 2007 | access-date=20 May 2010}}</ref>
===Engagements with the United States Navy=== {{expand section|to include the major naval battles of March 2026|date=March 2026}} {{Main|2008 U.S.–Iranian naval dispute|2016 U.S.–Iran naval incident|June 2019 Iranian shoot-down of American drone}} [[File:IRGC naval exercise-2015 (3).jpg|thumb|IRGC Navy boat during a naval exercise in 2015]] On 7 January 2008, US officials claimed five Iranian speedboats 'harassed' United States Navy vessels in the Persian Gulf. IRGC speedboats made threatening moves and in one case even came within 180 meters of US warships. The US Navy also claimed to have received a radio transmission from Iranian boats saying: ''"I am coming at you. You will explode in a couple of minutes"''. After this US ships were said to have taken up their gun positions and were ready to open fire at one of the boats when the Iranians turned away and one of the Iranian speedboats (allegedly) dropped white boxes into the water in front of the U.S. ships, it was not clear what was in the boxes.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Starr|first1=Barbara|title=Iranian boats 'harass' U.S. Navy, officials say|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/meast/01/07/iran.us.navy/index.html|website=CNN|publisher=CNN|access-date=26 July 2017|language=en|date=7 January 2008}}</ref>
Iranian officials and military commanders later downplayed the incidents as normal and denied having sent the radio transmission. After the US released a video showing Iranian speedboats swarming US ships in the Strait of Hormuz, Iran released its own video of the incident after suggesting the US video was staged.<ref>Fars News [http://english.farsnews.ir/newstext.php?nn=8610190697 Pentagon Video on Iran-US Confrontation a Clumsy Fake ] 9 January 2008</ref>
On 12 January 2016, 10 American sailors were taken into custody by IRGC officials off the coast of Farsi Island, which doubles as a naval installation for the IRGC. American officials stated that the sailors were on a training mission when one of their boats experienced a mechanical failure. During this time the vessel drifted into Iranian territorial waters spurring IRGC naval units to respond and apprehend the sailors with both vessels. US Secretary of State John Kerry engaged in a phone call with Iranian officials to defuse the situation. Iranian officials said that the sailors were in custody, but would be freed within hours, understanding that the incident was a mistake.<ref>{{cite web|title=Pentagon: 2 U.S. Navy Boats Held by Iran Military|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/pentagon-2-u-s-navy-boats-held-iran-military-n495031|website=NBC News|date=12 January 2016 |language=en}}</ref>
In 2019, the IRGC Navy allegedly carried out a series of attacks on international vessels in the Gulf of Oman and seized vessels taking them to Iran.<ref>[https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/06/pentagon-releases-images-gulf-oman-attack-190618055528966.html US releases new images from suspected attacks on Gulf tankers] aljazeera.com</ref><ref>[https://abcnews.go.com/International/iranian-republican-guard-seizes-foreign-oil-tanker-persian/story?id=64411931 Iranian republican guard seizes foreign oil tanker persian] abcnews.go.com</ref> As a result, the United States started the International Maritime Security Construct (IMSC) which increases overall surveillance and security in key waterways in the Middle East, according to the Deputy Secretary of Defense Michael Mulroy.<ref>[https://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2019/08/putin-gulf-security-plan-trump-iran-uae-saudi-arabia.html#ixzz5wpBYkzDa Putin’s Gulf security plan depends on Trump] al-monitor.com</ref>
===2026 Iran War and impact=== {{Main|2026 Iran War|2026 Strait of Hormuz campaign}}
On 26 March 2026, Israeli sources claimed the death of IRGCN head Alireza Tangsiri, who had been leading a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-891240|title=Israel kills Alireza Tangsiri, IRGC Navy chief 'behind blocking of Strait of Hormuz'|first1=Amichai|last1=Stein|first2=Yohan Jeremy|last2=Bob|first3=Tobias|last3=Siegal|publisher=The Jerusalem Post|date=26 March 2026|accessdate=26 March 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/world/iran/live-blog/live-updates-iran-war-trump-talks-israel-attacks-oil-hormuz-kharg-rcna265243|title=Live updates: Israel says it killed Iran navy chief; Trump warns Tehran to 'get serious' in talks 'before it is too late'|publisher=NBC News|date=26 March 2026|accessdate=26 March 2026}}</ref> Israeli Defense Forces later reported that all of the IRGC Navy’s other key commanders were killed in the strike with Tangsiri as well.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-says-irgc-navy-commander-killed-iranian-top-envoy-said-removed-from-hit-list/|title=Israel says IRGC Navy’s commander, other chiefs killed; Qalibaf said removed from hit list|publisher=The Times of Israel|date=26 March 2026|accessdate=27 March 2026}}</ref> U.S. Central Command leader Admiral Brad Cooper afterwards described the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy, which had also been greatly damaged from the ongoing 2026 Iran War, as now being "on an irreversible decline."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cy81p99x07no|title=Israel says it has killed Iran's navy chief overseeing Strait of Hormuz blockade|first=Tom|last=Bennett|publisher=BBC News|date=March 26, 2026|accessdate=March 27, 2026}}</ref> The death of Tangsiri was confirmed some days later by Iran.<ref name="reuters">{{Cite news |date=March 30, 2026 |title=Iran confirms death of Revolutionary Guards Navy Commander Tangsiri, statement says |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/iran-confirms-death-revolutionary-guards-navy-commander-tangsiri-statement-says-2026-03-30/ |access-date=2026-03-30 |work=Reuters}}</ref> Nevertheless, Iran has still remained determined to assert control over the Strait of Hormuz.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/live/2026/03/27/world/iran-war-trump-oil-israel|title=Iran War Live Updates: Tehran Moves to Assert Its Control Over Strait of Hormuz|publisher=New York Times|date=March 27, 2026|accessdate=March 27, 2026}}</ref>
==Military doctrine and strategy== {{see also|Iranian anti-access and area denial strategy in the Strait of Hormuz}} {{multiple image|perrow=3|align=right|total_width=220 | header = IRGC naval specialty insignias | image1 = IRGC-Naval-Branch.svg | caption1 = Navigation | image2 = IRGC-Diving Branch.svg | caption2 = Diving | image3 = IRGC-Marine Corps Branch.svg | caption3 = Marines | image4 = IRGC-Naval Electronic Branch.svg | caption4 = Maritime Electronics | image5 = IRGC-Naval Mechanic Branch.svg | caption5 = Maritime Mechanics | image6 = IRGC-Naval Missile-Branch.svg | caption6 = Coastal Missile }} IRGC Navy and ''Artesh'' Navy overlap functions and areas of responsibility, but they are distinct in terms of how they are trained and equipped— and more importantly also in how they fight. The Revolutionary Guards Navy has a large inventory of small fast attack craft, and specializes in asymmetric hit-and-run tactics. It is more akin to a guerrilla force at sea, and maintains large arsenals of coastal defense and anti-ship cruise missiles and mines.<ref name="The Iran Primer">{{citation|url=http://iranprimer.usip.org/blog/2013/mar/12/gulf-iii-iran%E2%80%99s-power-sea-lanes|title= Gulf III: Iran's Power in the Sea Lanes |access-date=5 January 2016|publisher=The Iran Primer, United States Institute of Peace|date= 12 March 2013|author=Michael Connell}}{{dead link|date=April 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref><ref name=Haghshenass/>
''Janes'' recognizes the IRGCN as the resuscitator of fast inshore attack craft (FIAC) in the modern era, as well as the most prominent practitioner of "small boat swarm tactics that combine speed, mass, co-ordinated manoeuvre, low radar signature, and concealment" among naval forces of the world.<ref>{{citation|first=Richard|last=Scott|title=Surviving the Swarm: Navies Eye New Counters to the FIAC Threat|url=https://www.janes.com/images/assets/571/36571/Surviving_the_swarm_new.pdf|journal=Jane's Navy International|date=March 2014|pages=20–27|volume=119|number=2|publisher=Jane's Information Group|issn=2048-3457|quote=Indeed, the IRGCN's unconventional use of these craft in the Gulf's 'tanker wars' of the late 1980s can in hindsight be seen as marking the birth of the fast inshore attack craft (FIAC) in the modern era. However, there is no doubt that the asymmetric surface threat has taken on increased significance over the past decade, with the IRGCN still recognised as the foremost –though by no means only– practitioner of small boat 'swarm' tactics that combine speed, mass, co-ordinated manoeuvre, low radar signature, and concealment. Moreover, the IRGCN has continued to invest significantly in FIAC platforms and weapons and to exercise this capability regularly in wargames in the Gulf.}}</ref>
It has also a Takavar (special force) unit, called Sepah Navy Special Force (S.N.S.F.).{{Citation needed|date=June 2021}}
In 2022, the IRGCN had unveiled a new uniform ditching its usual green in favor of white.<ref name="IRGCN uniform">{{citation|url=https://nationalinterest.org/feature/reducing-pressure-iran%E2%80%99s-revolutionary-guards-raises-risks-america-201712|title=Reducing Pressure on Iran's Revolutionary Guards Raises Risks for America|access-date=9 April 2022|newspaper=The National Interest|date=7 April 2022|author=Elliott Abrams and Behnam Ben Taleblu}}</ref>
== Organization == {{Location map+|Iran|caption= |float=center|width=400px |places= {{Location map~ | Iran | label = Bandar Abbas | position= right | marksize = 18 | link = Bandar Abbas Naval Base | mark = Military Symbol - Neutral Unit (Solid 1.1x1.1 Frame)- Naval (NATO APP-6A).svg | lat_deg = 27.11 | lon_deg = 56.16 }} {{Location map~ | Iran | label = Bushehr | position= left | marksize = 18 | link = Bushehr Naval Base | mark = Military Symbol - Neutral Unit (Solid 1.1x1.1 Frame)- Naval (NATO APP-6A).svg | lat_deg = 29.58 | lon_deg = 50.50 }} {{Location map~ | Iran | label = Mahshahr | position= right | marksize = 18 | link = Mahshahr Naval Base | mark = Military Symbol - Neutral Unit (Solid 1.1x1.1 Frame)- Naval (NATO APP-6A).svg | lat_deg = 30.33 | lon_deg = 49.11 }} {{Location map~ | Iran | label = Asaluyeh | position= left | marksize = 18 | link = Asaluyeh Naval Base | mark = Military Symbol - Neutral Unit (Solid 1.1x1.1 Frame)- Naval (NATO APP-6A).svg | lat_deg = 27.28 | lon_deg = 52.36 }}
{{Location map~ | Iran | label = Bandar Lengeh | position= top | marksize = 18 | link = Bandar Lengeh Naval Base | mark = Military Symbol - Neutral Unit (Solid 1.1x1.1 Frame)- Naval (NATO APP-6A).svg | lat_deg = 26.70 | lon_deg = 54.52 }} {{Location map~ | Iran | label = Chabahar | position= | marksize = 12 | link = Chabahar Imam Ali Naval Base | mark = Anchor pictogram.svg | lat_deg = 25.40 | lon_deg = 60.38 }} {{Location map~ | Iran | label = Babolsar | position= | marksize = 12 | link = Babolsar Naval Base | mark = Anchor pictogram.svg | lat_deg = 36.70 | lon_deg = 52.39 }} {{Location map~ | Iran | label = Zibakenar | position= | marksize = 12 | link = Zibakenar Naval Academy | mark = Anchor pictogram.svg | lat_deg = 37.50 | lon_deg = 49.52 }} {{Location map~ | Iran | label = Faror Island | position= bottom | marksize = 18 | link = Faror Island Marine Base | mark = Military Symbol - Neutral Unit (Solid 1.1x1.1 Frame)- Infantry - Naval Infantry - Amphibious - Tracked (NATO APP-6).svg | lat_deg = 26.17 | lon_deg = 54.30 }} {{Location map~ | Iran | label = Borazjan | position= right | marksize = 18 | link = Borazjan Naval Base | mark = Military Symbol - Neutral Unit (Solid 1x1 Frame)- Military Engineering - Assault Engineers or Assault Pioneers (Commonwealth APP-6).svg | lat_deg = 29.16 | lon_deg = 51.13 }} }} {|class="wikitable" |- !Command !Current commander !Location of headquarters |- !colspan=3|Naval Regions |- |1st Region (Saheb al-Zaman) ||Capt. Abbas Gholamshahi<ref name="Nadimi">{{citation|first=Farzin|last=Nadimi|title=Iran's Evolving Approach to Asymmetric Naval Warfare: Strategy and Capabilities in the Persian Gulf|url=https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/uploads/Documents/pubs/PolicyFocus164-Nadimi-v2.pdf|type=Policy Focus|number=164|date=April 2020|access-date=15 July 2020|at=Table 3. IRGCN Operational Districts, p. 30|work=The Washington Institute for Near East Policy|archive-date=4 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200504225030/https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/uploads/Documents/pubs/PolicyFocus164-Nadimi-v2.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>|| Bandar Abbas, Hormozgan Province |- |2nd Region (Nouh-e Nabi)||Capt. Ramezan Zirahi<ref name="Nadimi"/>|| Bushehr, Bushehr Province |- |3rd Region (Imam Hussein)||Vice Cmdr. Yadollah Badin<ref name="Nadimi"/>|| Mahshahr, Khuzestan Province |- |4th Region (Sarallah)||Vice Cmdr. Mansour Ravankar<ref name="Nadimi"/>|| Asaluyeh, Bushehr Province |- |5th Region (Imam Mohammad Bagher)||Vice Cmdr. Ali Ozmaei<ref name="Nadimi"/>|| Bandar Lengeh, Hormozgan Province |- !colspan=3|Independent components |- |Special Force||Vice Cmdr. Sadeq Amooie<ref name="Nadimi"/>|| Faror Island, Persian Gulf |- |Engineering Command||Unknown||Borazjan, Bushehr Province |- |Naval Academy||Vice Cmdr. Hossein-Ali Zamani Pajouh<ref name="Nadimi"/>|| Zibakenar, Gilan Province |- |Samen al-Hojaj Naval Base||Capt. Parviz Gholipour<ref name="Nadimi"/>|| Babolsar, Mazandaran Province |- |Imam Ali Independent Naval Base||Cdr. Seyyed-Mehdi Mousavi<ref name="Nadimi"/>|| Chabahar, Sistan and Baluchestan Province |}
==Basij== The corps put forward a warfare organization for civilian Iranian citizens fleet since 2019, with the intent to help fight wars and combat contraband and smuggling too.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.mehrnews.com/news/5561248/امکان-صید-برای-۷۰۰-نفر-از-صیادان-در-قالب-بسیج-دریایی-فراهم-شد/ | title=امکان صید برای ۷۰۰ نفر از صیادان در قالب بسیج دریایی فراهم شد - خبرگزاری مهر | اخبار ایران و جهان | Mehr News Agency }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://farsi.alarabiya.net/iran/2019/09/26/%D8%B3%D9%BE%D8%A7%D9%87-%D9%BE%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%AF%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%A7%DB%8C%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%A7%D8%B2-%D8%AA%D8%A7%D8%B3%DB%8C%D8%B3-%D8%A8%D8%B3%DB%8C%D8%AC-%D8%AF%D8%B1%DB%8C%D8%A7%DB%8C%DB%8C-%D8%AE%D8%A8%D8%B1-%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%AF | title=سپاه پاسدران ایران از تاسیس «بسیج دریایی» خبر داد | newspaper=العربیه فارسی }}</ref>
== Equipment == [[File:2022_Sacred_Defence_Week_parade_in_Bandar_Abbas_(43).jpg|thumb|275px|Shahid Soleymani corvette{{update after|2026|03}}]] thumb|275px|{{ship|IRIS|Shahid Shafiei|P313-3|3}} thumb|275px|''Azarakhsh'' (142), firing a missile [[File:Commissioning ceremony of IRGC naval vessels in March 2023 (10).jpg|thumb|275px|Zulfighar class Air-Defence boat nearest to the camera. Other speedboats also in picture.]] thumb|275px|{{ship|IRIS|Shahid Nazeri||2}} catamaran thumb|275px|A group of FB-RIB-33 speedboats thumb|275px|MIL 40 speedboat shooting thumb|275px|Bavar 2 {{see also|List of Iranian naval equipment|List of naval ship classes of Iran}} {{Main|List of equipment of the Navy of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps}}
=== Current ships === According to 'The Military Balance 2020' of the International Institute of Strategic Studies (IISS), the inventory included: {{Col-begin|width=70%}}{{Col-break}} {| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center" ! style="text-align:center; background:#acc;"|Type ! style="text-align: center; background:#acc;"|In service ! style="text-align:l center; background:#acc;"|Class |- ! style="align: center; background: lavender;" colspan="7"| Patrol boats/Small surface ships ({{abbr|ε|estimated}}126) |- | Patrol Boat Fast (+AShM) | 5<ref name="IISS2020">{{cite book|author=The International Institute of Strategic Studies (IISS)|title=The Military Balance 2020|year=2020|publisher=Routledge|chapter=Middle East and North Africa|volume=120|number=1|isbn=9780367466398|doi=10.1080/04597222.2020.1707968|pages=348–352|s2cid=219624897}}</ref> ----10<ref name="IISS2020"/> ----10<ref name="IISS2020"/> ----25<ref name="IISS2020"/> ----6<ref name="IISS2020"/> | C14 class ----Mk13 class ----''Tondar'' class{{efn|name=A|Unlike IISS categorization of PBFG, ''Jane's Fighting Ships'' considers this class of vessel PTFG or fast attack craft.}} ----''Peykaap'' II class ----''Zolfaghar'' class |- | Patrol Boat Fast (+Torpedo) | 15<ref name="IISS2020"/> |''Peykaap'' I class |- | Patrol Boat Fast | 15<ref name="IISS2020"/> ----10<ref name="IISS2020"/> ----{{abbr|ε|estimated}}10<ref name="IISS2020"/> | ''Kashdom'' II class ----''Tir'' class ----''Pashe'' class |- | Patrol Boat | {{abbr|ε|estimated}}20<ref name="IISS2020"/> | ''Ghaem'' class |} {{Col-break}} {| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center" ! style="text-align:center; background:#acc;"|Type ! style="text-align: center; background:#acc;"|In service ! style="text-align:l center; background:#acc;"|Class |- ! style="align: center; background: lavender;" colspan="7"| Amphibious warfare units (5) |- | Landing Ship Tank | 3<ref name="IISS2020"/> | ''Hormoz'' 24 class |- | Landing Craft Tank | 2<ref name="IISS2020"/> | ''Hormoz'' 21 class |- ! style="align: center; background: lavender;" colspan="7"| Logistic units (3) |- | Transport ship | 3<ref name="IISS2020"/> | ''Nasser'' class |- ! style="align: center; background: lavender;" colspan="7"| Missile corvettes (5) |- | Missile corvette | 0<ref>{{cite news |last1=Binnie |first1=Jeremy |title=Iran conflict 2026: CENTCOM commander says all IRGCN Soleimani class destroyed |url=https://www.janes.com/osint-insights/defence-news/sea/iran-conflict-2026-centcom-commander-says-all-irgcn-soleimani-class-destroyed |access-date=12 April 2026 |publisher=Janes |date=March 4, 2026}}</ref>
| ''Shahid Soleimani'' class |- | Missile corvette |1 |''Shahid Nazeri'' class |} {{Col-end}} {{notelist}}
==== Speedboat fleet ==== In addition to the vessels mentioned above, IRGC operates a fleet of armed speedboats with displacement below 10 tonnes,<ref name="IISS2020"/> the exact number of which is unknown.<ref name="dia">{{citation|title=Iran Military Power: Ensuring Regime Survival and Securing Regional Dominance|url=https://www.dia.mil/Portals/27/Documents/News/Military%20Power%20Publications/Iran_Military_Power_LR.pdf|date=August 2019|publisher=Defense Intelligence Agency|isbn=978-0-16-095157-2|id=DIA-Q-00055-A|page=53}}</ref> Back in 2007, the U.S. Office of Naval Intelligence estimated IRGC had a fleet of 1,000 speedboats that was growing.<ref>{{citation|first=Anthony|last=Capaccio|title=U.S. Has Gunships Ready to Deliver on Trump's Warning to Iran|url=https://www.bloombergquint.com/politics/u-s-has-gunships-ready-to-deliver-on-trump-s-warning-to-iran|date=25 April 2020|access-date=15 June 2020|work=Bloomberg}}</ref> As of 2011, estimates ranged widely from "hundreds" to "several thousand".<ref>{{citation|first=Joshua|last=Himes|title=Iran's Two Navies: A Maturing Maritime|publisher=Institute for the Study of War|jstor=resrep07900|jstor-access=free|date=October 2011|page=13}}</ref> The number was put between 3,000 and 5,000 vessels according to most recent reports in 2020.<ref>{{citation|title=Iran retaliates for the killing of Qassem Suleimani|url=https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2020/01/08/iran-retaliates-for-the-killing-of-qassem-suleimani|url-access=subscription|date=8 January 2020|access-date=15 June 2020|journal=Economist|quote=Strategists have speculated that Iran could use its fleet of 3,000 to 5,000 speedboats to mount swarming attacks on larger warships in the confined waters of the Persian Gulf, though this concept remains untested.}}</ref>
Classes of speedboats in the inventory include: * Boghammar or ''Tareq'' class (IISS estimates {{circa}}40 operational in 2020)<ref name="IISS2020"/> * Zulfighar class air-defence boat * ''Ashura'' class<ref name="dia"/> * ''Cougar'' class<ref name="dia"/> * ''FB'' class (RIB-33)<ref name="dia"/> * ''Murce'' class<ref name="dia"/> * ''Bahman'' class catamaran<ref name="Singh">{{citation|first=Abhijit|last=Singh|title=Dark Chill in the Persian Gulf – Iran's Conventional and Unconventional Naval Forces|journal=Maritime Affairs|volume=6|number=2|date=2010|pages=108–113|publisher=National Maritime Foundation|doi=10.1080/09733159.2010.559788|s2cid=110041921|issn=1946-6609}}</ref> * ''Gashti'' class<ref name="dia"/> * ''Kuch'' class<ref name="dia"/> * Bladerunner of ''Seraj'' class<ref name="dia"/> * {{sclass|Heidar|boat|4}} * ''Meead'' class<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tasnimnews.com/en/news/2020/05/28/2274711/112-missile-boats-delivered-to-irgc-navy|title=112 Missile Boats Delivered to IRGC Navy - Defense news|website=Tasnim News Agency}}</ref> * {{sclass2|Kajami|torpedo boat|4}} * {{sclass|Gahjae|torpedo boat|4}} * {{sclass|Tarlan|speedboat|4}} * {{sclass|MIL 55|speedboat|4}} * {{sclass|MIL 40|speedboat|4}} * {{sclass|Zafar|patrol craft|4}}
====Ships ==== *Frigate<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.farsnews.ir/news/14020910000217/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AD%D8%A7%D9%82-%D8%A7%D9%88%D9%84%DB%8C%D9%86-%D9%86%D8%A7%D9%88%D8%B4%DA%A9%D9%86-%D8%A8%D9%87-%D9%86%DB%8C%D8%B1%D9%88%DB%8C-%D8%AF%D8%B1%DB%8C%D8%A7%DB%8C%DB%8C-%D8%B3%D9%BE%D8%A7%D9%87-%D8%AA%D8%A7-%D9%BE%D8%A7%DB%8C%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%B3%D8%A7%D9%84 | title=Farsnews | الحاق اولین ناوشکن به نیروی دریایی سپاه تا پایان سال }}</ref> *IRIS ''Shahid Roudaki'' *IRIS ''Shahid Mahdavi'' *IRIS ''Shahid Bagheri'', a drone carrier{{update after|2026|03}}
==== Other vessels ==== * Al-Sabehat, swimmer delivery vehicle<ref name="Singh"/> * Bavar 2, wing-in-ground effect air vehicle<ref name="IISS2020"/>
=== Current aircraft === Based on the IISS report, as of 2020 Iranian aircraft inventory includes: {| class="wikitable" ! style="text-align:center; background:#acc;"|Aircraft ! style="text-align: center; background:#acc;"|Origin ! style="text-align:l center; background:#acc;"|Type ! style="text-align:left; background:#acc;"|Variant ! style="text-align:center; background:#acc;"|In service ! style="text-align: center; background:#acc;"|Notes |- ! style="align: center; background: lavender;" colspan="7"| Helicopters |- | Bell 206 | United States | multi-role | AB-206 | Unknown<ref name="IISS2020"/> | |- | Mil Mi-17 | Russia | transport | Mi-171 ''Hip'' | 5<ref name="IISS2020"/> | |}
====UAV==== *Shahed 136<ref>{{cite web | url=https://parsi.euronews.com/2023/11/21/how-iranian-drones-threaten-oil-transfer-routes-to-europe | title=پهپادهای ایرانی چگونه مسیر انتقال نفت به اروپا را تهدید میکنند؟ | date=21 November 2023 }}</ref>
===Coastal anti-ship missiles=== * Noor, based on the Chinese C-802 (+) * Kowsar, based on the Chinese C-701 (+) * Kowsar, based on the Chinese TL-10 (+) * Nasr-1, based on the Chinese TL-6 (+) * HY-2 Silkworm (+) * Qader, medium-range anti-ship cruise missile * Persian Gulf (Khalij Fars), Anti ship ballistic missile (ASBM) based on Fateh-110. <gallery> File:Firing Nasr-1 Missile from a truck launcher.jpg|Firing Nasr-1 Missile from a truck launcher in Velayat-90 Naval Exercise File:Firing Qader Missile from a truck launcher (2).jpg|Qader </gallery>
===Torpedoes=== *Hoot, can be launched from IRGCN speedboats and torpedoboats
== Commanders == {{IRGC}} {{Officeholder table start | showorder = y | showimage = y | image_title = Portrait | officeholder_title = Commander | showtermlenght = y | showparty = n | showdefencebranch = n | showref = y }} {{Officeholder table | order = 1 | image = Photo of Gen. Hossein Allaee taken during Iranian oral history project by Hossein Dehbashi uploaded by Mardetanha (7) (cropped).JPG | military_rank = | officeholder = Hossein Alaei | officeholder_sort = Alaei, Hossein | born_year = | died_year = | term_start = 17 September 1985 | term_end = 23 December 1990 | timeinoffice = {{Age in years and days|1985|10|17|1990|12|23}} | ref = – }} {{Officeholder table | order = 2 | image = Ali Shamkhani by Tasnim 02.jpg | military_rank = Commodore | officeholder = Ali Shamkhani | officeholder_sort = Shamkhani, Ali | born_year = 1955 | died_year = 2026 | term_start = 23 December 1990 | term_end = 27 August 1997 | timeinoffice = {{Age in years and days|1990|12|23|1997|8|27}} | ref = [https://farsi.khamenei.ir/message-content?id=463] }} {{Officeholder table | order = 3 | image = Ali-Akbar Ahmadian (cropped).jpg | military_rank = Commodore | officeholder = Ali Akbar Ahmadian | officeholder_sort = Ahmadian, Ali Akbar | born_year = 1961 | died_year = | term_start = 27 August 1997 | term_end = 19 July 2000 | timeinoffice = {{Age in years and days|1997|8|27|2000|7|19}} | ref = [https://farsi.khamenei.ir/message-content?id=11350] }} {{Officeholder table | order = 4 | image = General Morteza Saffari in imam Hossein University 04.jpg | military_rank = Commodore | officeholder = Morteza Saffari | officeholder_sort = Saffari, Morteza | born_year = | died_year = | term_start = 19 July 2000 | term_end = 3 May 2010 | timeinoffice = {{Age in years and days|2000|7|19|2010|5|3}} | ref = [https://farsi.khamenei.ir/message-content?id=18406] }} {{Officeholder table | order = 5 | image = Sardar Ali Fadavi by Khamenei.ir (cropped).jpg | military_rank = Commodore | officeholder = Ali Fadavi | officeholder_sort = Fadavi, Ali | born_year = 1961 | died_year = | term_start = 3 May 2010 | term_end = 23 August 2018 | timeinoffice = {{Age in years and days|2010|5|3|2018|8|23}} | ref = [https://farsi.khamenei.ir/message-content?id=9309] }} {{Officeholder table | order = 6 | image = Alireza Tangsiri 1398092214483888219109904.jpg | military_rank = Commodore | officeholder = Alireza Tangsiri{{KIA}} | officeholder_sort = Tangsiri, Alireza | born_year = 1962 | died_year = 2026 | term_start = 23 August 2018 | term_end = 26 March 2026<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/us-confirms-death-iranian-irgc-naval-commander-2026-03-26/|title=US confirms death of Iranian IRCG naval commander|publisher=Reuters|date=March 26, 2026|accessdate=March 26, 2026}}</ref> | timeinoffice = {{Age in years and days|2018|08|23|2026|03|26}} | ref = [https://farsi.khamenei.ir/message-content?id=40329] }} {{Officeholder table end}}
==See also== {{Portal|Iran}} *List of navies *List of marines and similar forces *Ebrahim Zolfeghari
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== {{commons category|Navy of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps}}
{{Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps}} {{Iran Military}} {{Authority control}}
Category:Anti-Israeli sentiment in Iran Category:Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps military branches Category:1985 establishments in Iran Category:Navies by country Category:Marines Category:Military units and formations established in 1985