IRGC Chief Adviser Says No US Vessels Present Near Iran

A senior adviser to the commander-in-chief of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said on Sunday that, for the first time, no American vessel is present in the Persian Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz, the Sea of Oman, or even the northern Indian Ocean. The statement was reported by Mehr News Agency (MNA) on October 5.

The adviser described the absence of US naval assets in these strategic waterways as a notable development. The claim could not be independently verified, and no further details were provided regarding the basis for the assessment or the timeframe in which the absence was observed.

The Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, and Sea of Oman are critical chokepoints for global oil shipments and have long been areas of US naval presence. The Strait of Hormuz, in particular, is a vital passage for a significant portion of the world's oil trade. The northern Indian Ocean also serves as a key route for international shipping.

There was no immediate response from US officials to the IRGC adviser's remarks. The statement comes amid ongoing tensions between Iran and the United States over regional security and maritime activities. In recent years, both countries have accused each other of provocative actions in the region.

According to Mehr News Agency, the adviser's comments were made during a public address, though the exact venue and audience were not specified. The report did not include any additional context about US naval deployments or any recent incidents that might have prompted the statement.

The IRGC is a branch of Iran's armed forces responsible for safeguarding the country's borders and revolutionary ideals. Its naval forces operate primarily in the Persian Gulf and have frequently been involved in encounters with US vessels in the past. The adviser's claim, if accurate, would mark a shift in the usual pattern of US naval presence in the region.

Mehr News Agency is an Iranian news outlet based in Tehran. The report did not provide further details or corroboration from other sources.