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ISLAMABAD: Iran&rsquo;s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Deputy Commander Brigadier General Ahmad Vahidi has said the country is fully prepared to respond forcefully to any hostile move, warning adversaries against what he described as reckless actions, Press TV reported.&nbsp;Speaking at the National Congress of the 12,000 Western units in the northwestern city of Urmia on Saturday, Vahidi said Iran had already foiled enemy plots during the 12-day <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/trump-says-us-still-watching-iran-fleet-sailing-to-region" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">US-Israeli aggression</a> in June, as well as in the recent unrest inside the country.&nbsp;&ldquo;Just as in the 12-day war and the recent sedition, all enemy schemes against Islamic Iran failed; we stand ready to deliver a regret-inducing response to any adventurous move by the sworn enemies of the Iranian nation,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;Vahidi added that Iran&rsquo;s adversaries, after suffering setbacks during the conflict, attempted to compensate by fomenting <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/son-of-iranian-president-calls-for-end-to-internet-blackout" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">internal unrest,</a> but were once again defeated due to national unity and public solidarity.&nbsp;He said sporadic economic protests that began in late December were quickly infiltrated by foreign-backed elements seeking to incite violence. Iranian intelligence, he added, confirmed that these groups received US and Israeli intelligence, arms and logistical support, leading to the arrest of ringleaders and seizure of weapons, including arms allegedly destined for Tehran.&nbsp;The IRGC deputy commander also criticized foreign powers for claiming to support the Iranian people while acting against them, pointing to sanctions and acts of violence during recent unrest as evidence of long-standing hostility.&nbsp;According to Vahidi, the ultimate aim of the United States and its allies is to weaken Iran, undermine national cohesion, and bring the country under foreign influence.

Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Deputy Commander Brigadier General Ahmad Vahidi (Photo: Press TV/File)

Middle East

Vahidi adds that Iran’s adversaries, after suffering setbacks during the conflict, attempted to compensate by fomenting internal unrest, but were once again defeated due to national unity and public solidarity.

Iran ready to respond decisively to any hostile move, warns IRGC commander

TEHRAN: Iran&#39;s Revolutionary Guards on Wednesday seized an oil tanker in the Gulf carrying more than a dozen foreign crew members, state media reported. The vessel &quot;was carrying 4 million litres of smuggled fuel with 16 non-Iranian crew members on board,&quot; state television quoted navy commander General Abbas Gholamshahi as saying. Forces from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) &quot;boarded the ship ... as it was leaving Iranian territorial waters,&quot; he added. It was not immediately clear which flag the ship was flying. Iranian forces regularly announce the interception of ships it says are illegally transporting fuel in the Gulf. They regularly target tankers that Tehran accuses of being part of the illicit trade in the Strait of Hormuz, a key chokepoint for global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments. Wednesday&#39;s seizure is the latest in a series of similar incidents in recent weeks. Earlier in December authorities seized a tanker in the Gulf of Oman with 18 crew members from India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh on board. That interception came days after the United States seized an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela. According to Washington, the ship&#39;s captain was transporting oil from Venezuela and Iran. The US Treasury sanctioned Venezuela in 2022 over alleged ties to the IRGC and Hezbollah. Retail fuel prices in Iran are among the lowest in the world, making smuggling fuel to other countries particularly profitable. Last month, Iran seized an oil tanker in Gulf waters &quot;for carrying an unauthorised cargo&quot;. Also in November, the IRGC confirmed they had seized a Marshall Islands-flagged oil tanker in the Gulf.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards seized an oil tanker in the Gulf carrying 4 million litres of fuel and 16 foreign crew members, part of ongoing interceptions of ships accused of illegal fuel transport

Articles tagged with "Iran’s Revolutionary Guards"

Iran ready to respond decisively to any hostile move, warns IRGC commander

Iran Guards seize foreign-crewed oil tanker in Gulf: state media