Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy

Force in Play

Lost 60+ vessels and all four Soleimani Class warships to US strikes; continues USV and drone attacks

Seven weeks into the US-Iran war, the Strait of Hormuz combat zone has seen over 22 UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO)-reported vessel and port incidents since February 28, including three attacks on March 11 alone: an Iranian unmanned surface vessel struck the Thai-flagged MAYUREE NAREE cargo ship in the strait, causing fire and evacuation; a drone hit another cargo ship there; and a drone damaged a bulk carrier off Dubai. US Central Command sank over 60 Iranian naval vessels on March 11, including all four IRGC Navy Soleimani Class warships, while one successful US Navy-escorted tanker transit occurred on March 10. Attacks escalated to direct strikes on port infrastructure and tankers, with Iranian drones hitting Oman's Salalah port on March 28, a Kuwaiti oil tanker at Dubai port on March 31, and a missile striking an oil tanker off Qatar on April 1.

Updated 4 days ago

Force in Play

Enforcing claimed closure of Strait of Hormuz

The Strait of Hormuz, which normally carries 20 million barrels of oil daily—about one-fifth of global supply—has seen traffic plummet over six weeks since US-Israeli strikes on Iran halted flows on February 28, 2026. Over 150 tankers anchored outside the 21-mile-wide chokepoint as IRGC warnings emptied the strait by early March. Minimal outbound traffic resumed mid-March at 2-5 ships per day under Iranian clearance, formalized March 29 as a tolled IRGC checkpoint for 'non-hostile' vessels excluding US/Israel-linked ships. On April 4, the first LNG tanker—the Japan-linked Sohar LNG—successfully exited under the toll regime, though loaded oil tanker flows remain near zero with multiple commercial strikes reported.

Updated Apr 6

Force in Play

Asymmetric capabilities largely intact

The last time the United States sank Iranian warships was April 18, 1988. Thirty-eight years later, American forces destroyed nine Iranian naval vessels in a single day and demolished the country's naval headquarters at Chabahar, on the Gulf of Oman. The strikes came after Iran attempted to blockade the Strait of Hormuz, the 21-mile-wide passage through which roughly one-fifth of the world's oil supply flows, broadcasting radio warnings that no commercial ship would be allowed to pass.

Updated Mar 1

Force in Play

Key actor in interdictions and escalatory maritime signaling

Iranian authorities boarded a foreign-flag tanker near Jask in the Gulf of Oman and detained 18 crew members, including the captain. Iran says the ship carried roughly 6 million litres of “smuggled” diesel and tried to flee after ignoring stop orders.

Updated Dec 13, 2025