Iran’s Alborz warship has entered the Red Sea, as tensions continue to rise in the region. The move, reported by the semi-official Tasnim news agency on Monday, comes at a time of increasing hostility between Israel and Hamas, and a series of attacks on vessels by Iran-allied forces.
According to Tasnim, the Alborz’s mission in the Red Sea has not been specified, but it is part of a larger operation to secure shipping routes, combat piracy, and carry out other tasks. This deployment follows a pattern of Iranian naval activity in the area, dating back to 2009.
Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis have been targeting vessels in the Red Sea since November, in a show of support for Hamas. As a result, major shipping companies have opted for the longer and more expensive route around Africa’s Cape of Good Hope, rather than passing through the Suez Canal, which handles about 12% of global trade.
The deployment of the Alborz may further escalate tensions, as it is the latest in a series of aggressive actions by Iran in the region. The U.S. Fifth Fleet has noted that it cannot comment on the vessel’s movements, but there have been unconfirmed reports on social media that it arrived late on Saturday.
The Alvand class destroyer, which is accompanied by the Bushehr support vessel, has previously patrolled the Gulf of Aden, the north of the Indian Ocean, and the Bab al-Mandab Strait as part of the Iranian Navy’s 34th fleet in 2015. Its presence in the Red Sea has been confirmed by Iranian state media, with the head of the Navy, Shahram Irani, stating on Dec. 2 that the Alborz was conducting missions in the area.
This recent deployment has raised concerns among international shipping companies, as the Houthis have ramped up their attacks on vessels passing through the Red Sea. On Saturday and Sunday, they attacked a Maersk container vessel with missiles and small boats, prompting the company to pause all sailing through the Red Sea for 48 hours. This type of aggression has been condemned by the international community, with several countries calling for an end to the violence.
Iran’s Defence Minister, Mohammad Reza Ashtiani, has also made statements about the country’s dominance in the region, saying on Dec. 14 that “nobody can make a move” in areas where Iran has a strong presence. This further adds to tensions in the region, as neighboring countries and the international community are closely monitoring Iran’s actions.
The presence of the Alborz in the Red Sea also raises concerns about potential interference with shipping routes and an increase in piracy. In recent years, there has been a rise in piracy in the Red Sea, causing increasing concern for the safety of vessels passing through the area.
As tensions continue to escalate in the region, it remains to be seen how the deployment of the Alborz will impact the situation. The international community will be closely monitoring the vessel’s movements and actions, as well as the response from neighboring countries and international organizations.
The U.S. has previously expressed concerns about Iran’s involvement in conflicts in the Middle East, and this latest deployment will likely only add to these concerns. It remains to be seen how the U.S. will respond to this latest development, and what actions they may take to address the situation.
In the midst of the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas, the arrival of the Alborz in the Red Sea is just another example of how tensions in the region continue to escalate. The international community is calling for de-escalation and peaceful resolutions to the conflicts, but with the addition of another aggressive player in the region, the situation remains volatile. It is crucial for all parties involved to exercise restraint and work towards peaceful solutions to avoid further escalation and potential dangers to maritime security in the Red Sea.
