Admiral Alireza Tangsiri, Commander Of The IRGC Navy: We Will Respond To Any Aggression Against Iranian Ships, And Will Chase Aggressors To The Gulf Of Mexico If Needed – We Are Not The Type Of People Who Turn The Other Cheek
Admiral Alireza Tangsiri, commander of the IRGC Navy, stated in an interview with Mayadeen TV (Lebanon) aired on March 28, 2025, that it is not up to him to decide whether to close the Strait of Hormuz, but he would be the one to implement such a decision. He explained that this would happen if Iran is "deprived of its rights." Tangsiri asserted that Iran is a superpower, and that the world is wide. He mentioned that Trump had issued similar threats before, but they could not stop Iran from exporting oil. He emphasized that Iran would respond in kind to any actions taken against Iranian ships, stating that the Iranian people are not the type to turn the other cheek. He added, "No one can hit us and run away," and further stated that the IRGC Navy would chase any aggressors to the Gulf of Mexico, if necessary.
Alireza Tangsiri: "The decision to close the Hormuz Strait is not mine to make. It is the decision of the higher ups, but its implementation is on me. This decision will be made if they deprive us of our rights, and if we see that other ships are passing through. It will have a completely different meaning, and then the appropriate decision will be made, whether to close it or leave it open. As a soldier, I will implement the decision.
[...]
"We are a superpower and the world is wide. Trump had issued these threats before. They cannot stop us from exporting oil. If our ships are subject to any incident, we will undoubtedly respond in kind.
"If they detain our ships, we will detain their ships as well. We will not stand idly by and just watch America or any other country detaining our ships, like Britain did in Gibraltar, while their ships pass freely, whether in or out of the Persian Gulf, or [even] in the oceans. We will respond in kind. We are not the kind of people that turn the other cheek when slapped. No, we are not like that. If we are slapped, we respond with a stronger slap.
[...]
"No one can hit us and run away. Even if we have to chase them to the Gulf of Mexico, we will do it."
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