Getting to Know Iran's "Aircraft Carrier" in the Strait of Hormuz

The situation in the Middle East is heating up. Iran asserts that it is not a country that can be easily pressured. Although the United States excels in technology and military strength, and is currently surrounding Iran, the Chief of Staff of the Iranian Navy, Admiral Alireza Tangsiri, emphasized that the Iranian military is prepared to face any eventuality.

Iran is increasingly confident in preparing the defense of its country. In a report by the Turkish news agency, Anadolu, on Tuesday (17/2/2026), Tangsiri stated that Iran has full control over the Strait of Hormuz, which is a crucial point for global oil and gas exports.

Iran, according to Tangsiri, fully controls the surface and underwater areas of the Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf. The narrowest part of the Strait of Hormuz is only 34 kilometers wide, a range that can easily be reached by large-caliber artillery fire from Tehran. The shipping lanes in the Strait of Hormuz are divided into two, each 2 miles (3.2 kilometers) wide, for entering and exiting the Gulf area.

"The small islands owned by Iran in the Strait of Hormuz are impenetrable and indestructible fortresses. The islands in question are Abu Musa, Tunb, Siri, and the largest, Qeshm," said Tangsiri.

These islands are like "aircraft carriers" for Iran, monitoring traffic in and out of the Strait of Hormuz. The US Navy fleet, when sailing to bases in the Gulf, is inevitably within range of Iranian attacks from the islands, which are only 40-50 kilometers off the coast of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), a US ally. Furthermore, Iran also has a drone carrier converted from a merchant vessel.

From these islands, radar stations, missiles, fast guided-missile boats (Kamikaze boats), sea mines, diesel-powered submarine bases, and a fleet of thousands of drones can launch attacks against targets in the narrow strait. Large warships have no room to maneuver in the narrow passage of the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran's boasts and self-confidence appear to be more than mere rhetoric. US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine explained the risks of attacking Iran. The Washington Post, Monday (February 23, 2026), quoted Caine's remarks at a White House meeting with President Donald Trump, who revealed the shortage of strategic munitions and low allied support. These conditions pose a problem for the current US military operation against Iran.

Dan Caine expressed his concerns during a meeting with President Trump and senior US officials. US military resources have already been depleted to assist Ukraine and especially Israel.

Iran's dominance as a regional power is recognized by neighboring countries that also possess financial and military resources, one of which is the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The UAE Embassy to the United States reported that Iran could at any time blockade the Strait of Hormuz through the islands it has controlled since 1971.

The UAE noted that on Abu Musa Island, the Iranian military monitors international shipping, while Greater and Lesser Tunb Islands have been entirely converted into military installations for power projection in the Persian Gulf. There are major bases of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps located there.

The main base for controlling the Strait of Hormuz is located on Qeshm Island. This island serves as an operational, logistical, and storage base for Iran's ballistic missiles as well as air defense. Not far from Qeshm is Iran's main port, namely Bandar Abbas.

Iran's preparedness and control have been closely monitored by Israel, which has been pushing the US for years to eliminate Iran. A July 2, 2025, report by The Jerusalem Times stated that Israel monitors the movements of Iranian Revolutionary Guard ships with various sea mines. As of 2019, Israeli intelligence data indicated that Iran possessed at least 5,000 sea mines that could be used to close the Strait of Hormuz.

On the other hand, the U.S. Fifth Fleet is located in Bahrain, which must traverse the Strait of Hormuz. The Fifth Fleet in Bahrain only has four mine-sweeping vessels.

According to Israel, if Iran completely closes the Strait of Hormuz, it will have an impact on global economic chaos. At least 20 percent of the world's oil exports pass through the Strait of Hormuz, and 69 percent of that oil supply is directed to India, China, Japan, and South Korea.

On June 22, 2025, shortly after the United States bombed Iran's peaceful nuclear development center, the Iranian Parliament proposed to close the Strait of Hormuz. At that time, U.S. minesweepers were moved away from Bahrain to anticipate a retaliatory attack from Iran on U.S. military bases in the Gulf region.

The Alma think tank in Israel, in a report dated January 3, 2023, revealed that on Qeshm Island, Iran had built a launch base for the Shahed 171 and Saegheh 1 drones (developed from the US RQ 170 drone made by Lockheed Martin), which Iran had successfully shot down.

In addition, Alma's study suspects that there is a hidden submarine base owned by Iran on Qeshm Island. The Russian-made Kilo-class diesel submarines, when operating on battery power, are nearly undetectable by adversaries.

Then, there is the large shipyard Qeshm Madkandaloo Shipbuilding located there. The shipyard produces various warships for the Iranian Revolutionary Guard.

With extensive preparations, Iran feels confident of becoming a regional power, particularly in defending itself against foreign attacks. Various Iranian weapons are mass-produced at a lower cost than Western weapons. A swarm attack strategy is believed to be able to penetrate Western weapons systems, which are superior in quality, but may be outnumbered.

In the US military exercise titled Millennium Challenge in 2002, a simulation was conducted involving the US fleet against Iran. As a result, dozens of US ships and aircraft carriers sank. Ultimately, the Pentagon halted the exercise and the scenario was changed.

The initial scenario is the US Navy (Blue Forces) against the Red Forces of the opposing country in the Middle East, which actually refers to Iran.

Popular Mechanics, in a report titled "The U.S. Lost in a (Fictional) War Against Iran 18 Years Ago," January 2020, recounts General (Ret.) Paul van Riper leading the Red Forces (Iran). Van Riper utilized various weapons and bases located along the coast and the Strait of Hormuz to annihilate the U.S. fleet.

Van Riper, known for his out-of-the-box thinking, launched an attack before the US Navy launched a preemptive strike. Land-based missiles, a swarm of missile-armed speedboats, and fighter jets jammed radio communications to attack, overwhelming the US.

As Iran's "Commander-in-Chief," Van Riper sank 19 US Navy ships, including aircraft carriers, cruisers, and five amphibious ships.

The United States initially assessed that the opponent would wait to be attacked and defend itself. Conversely, Van Riper launched the first strike as soon as the U.S. fleet was within its striking range off the coast of Iran and the Strait of Hormuz.

Now, entering the year 2026, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Dan Caine, has also issued a serious warning regarding the complexities of military operations against Iran and the assessment of potential casualties on the U.S. side. "I am responsible for considering the impacts and risks involved. This is communicated confidentially," said Caine. (REUTERS)