Iran's Revolutionary Guard confirms death of naval commander Tangsiri, responsible for blocking the Strait of Hormuz

The official website of Iran's Revolutionary Guard, Sepah News, confirmed on Monday, the 30th, the death of Ali Reza Tangsiri, the navy commander, stating that this prominent figure in Iran's armed forces "died due to severe injuries."

Israel announced on March 26 that it had killed Tangsiri, "along with several other senior naval officials," whom they believe are responsible for blocking the Strait of Hormuz—a waterway critical to global oil supply.

Tangsiri participated in the Iran-Iraq War (1980–1988). After serving as deputy commander of the Iranian Navy for eight years, he became commander of the Revolutionary Guard Navy in 2018.

Under his leadership, the Iranian Navy significantly strengthened its capabilities. In recent years, the Iranian Navy has claimed to have seized multiple foreign vessels suspected of violating regulations in the Persian Gulf.

Ali Reza Tangsiri is listed on sanctions lists by the United States and the European Union. In the years preceding the outbreak of the current conflict, he openly threatened U.S. interests in the region without hesitation.

During the 2020 "Revolutionary Guard" fleet expansion ceremony, when submarines were unveiled for the first time, he spoke in a provocative tone: "Wherever Americans are, we are right beside them—they will soon feel our presence even more directly."

In another instance, he warned: "If enemies decide to confront us, we will pursue them—right into the Gulf of Mexico."

Tangsiri repeatedly emphasized Iran’s military capability to block the Strait of Hormuz in response to an attack, though ultimate decision-making authority rests with the country's "leadership."

In January this year, a massive explosion occurred at a building in Bandar Abbas port in southern Iran, sparking speculation about his death. However, at the time, the Revolutionary Guard denied any attack on its naval facilities, while Tasnim News Agency rejected rumors of Tangsiri being assassinated.

Source: rfi

Original article: toutiao.com/article/1861104286442506/

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