Iran: No vessel can enter Strait of Hormuz without our permission

Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari, a commander of the Iranian Navy, stated on Friday that no vessel can enter the Strait of Hormuz without Iran's permission. Speaking on a television program, he emphasized that the western side of the Strait of Hormuz, the strait itself, and the Persian Gulf are under the firm control of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Navy, while the eastern side of the strait and the northern Indian Ocean are under the firm control of the Iranian Navy.

Sayyari also addressed the recent incident involving the Dena destroyer, which was attacked by a torpedo from the US Navy off the coast of Sri Lanka on March 4. He said the vessel was participating in a peace and friendship exercise and an educational mission and was not carrying combat weapons. The commander stated that the Iranian naval forces had been martyred unjustly, adding that Iran would avenge their blood. He noted that Iran had suffered 104 martyrs in the incident, while the bodies of 20 of them remain in the sea.

In another part of his remarks, Sayyari highlighted the extensive deployment of drones by the Iranian Army and the IRGC. He noted that unmanned systems can be prepared in a very short time under difficult conditions. The commander added that Iran has also suffered martyrs in operations involving drones against the enemy, describing Iran's drone capabilities as highly advanced and rapidly expanding in production.

According to Mehr News Agency, the remarks were made during a television program where Sayyari also questioned the silence of international and human rights organizations regarding the attack on the Dena destroyer.