THE IRANIAN MARITIME CHALLENGE

Iran is the leading challenge to the United States and its partners and allies in the Middle East. Nowhere is this challenge more pronounced than in the maritime domain, where Iran’s naval power continues to dwarf that of its neighbors in the Persian Gulf. This thesis explores the threat Iran poses by examining the extensive maritime capabilities of its two navies, the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps Navy (IRGCN) and the Islamic Republic of Iran Navy (IRIN), and how those forces have employed their capabilities in past aggressive behavior. The thesis highlights three primary cases to that end: Iran’s attacks on commercial shipping during the Tanker War, the brief hostage-taking of U.S. Sailors near Farsi Island, and the repeated use of harassment tactics and sabotage operations. Through those cases studies, a broader assessment is made regarding the degree of Iran’s ability to use its capabilities to close the Strait of Hormuz for an extended period and its ability to effectively employ kinetic swarm attacks against the U.S. Navy. This study concludes with some recommendations for the U.S. Navy on ways to better plan for, and counter, Iran’s likely tactical pathways of aggression at sea.Lieutenant, United States NavyApproved for public release. Distribution is unlimited