Tensions in the Mediterranean have relapsed and relations between Iran and the United States have warmed, with the focus on this vast body of water, which connects three continents and carries countless shipping routes. A commander of Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps declared that if the United States and its allies continue to exert pressure on the Gaza Strip, it could inspire new resistance and even resort to a never-before-seen blockade of the Mediterranean. The statement sparked widespread discussion, especially against the backdrop of escalating tensions in the Gaza Strip. More than 20,000 Palestinians have been killed in the conflict since the beginning of October, according to Gaza's Ministry of Health, highlighting the magnitude of the humanitarian catastrophe on the ground and the persistence and complexity of the conflict in the region. It is worth noting that this is not the first time that Iran has signaled to the United States that it is blocking the seas. Previously, tensions in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz put pressure on the United States. This time, Iran's statement has once again shifted the attention of the United States to the Mediterranean. Taken together, Iran's message through these remarks is important, both as a strong reaction to the Middle East policy of the United States and Israel, and as a public warning to intervening forces outside the Middle East.
Of course, what Iran said"Blockade"Whether it can become a reality is also the focus of attention of all parties. Although it seems unrealistic for Iran to blockade the Mediterranean Sea from a geographical point of view, because Iran and the Mediterranean are separated by several countries, there must be some specific considerations in Iran's statement. The Iranian Navy's ** depot ushered in two self-developed cruise missiles"Talayech"with"Nasir"。According to the Iranian side, the "Talayekh" missile has a range of more than 1,000 kilometers and has intelligent characteristics, that is, it can change the target of attack during the flight, which reflects the latest achievements of the missile's intelligence. This series of measures shows that Iran's statement is not empty talk, but has substantive strategic calculations and the ability to act. The Iranian Navy demonstrated its "Poseidon" cruise missiles and "Nasir" cruise missiles, although the "Nasir" has a range of only 100 kilometers, but it has lethal power in close combat, and can be installed on the **, further enhancing the attack capability of Iran's water forces. In addition, the Iranian Navy also displayed a number of new equipment, including reconnaissance*** and unmanned aerial vehicles.
Iran emphasizes that these equipment are the result of its own design and manufacture in its military industry. In addition, Iran claims to have a variety of missiles with a range of up to 2,000 kilometers and the ability to carry out precision strikes against US military bases in the Middle East and even Israel. Although the range of these missiles is not sufficient to support Iran's goal of "blockading the Mediterranean", it highlights Iran's hardline attitude towards the United States and Israel. Moreover, Iranian-backed Middle Eastern armed forces, such as Allah in Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen, cannot compete with the United States in direct military power, but can pose a threat to both the United States and Israel in the Mediterranean. In the Mediterranean, Lebanese Allah is capable of maneuvering anti-ship missiles and drones, posing a threat to any ship. The United States, as the dominant maritime power today, is already feeling the pressure. The global influence of the United States is based on the combat effectiveness of its navy. However, in the face of the gradual encirclement of Iran and its people, the core position of the United States in the maritime system has encountered unprecedented challenges. From a strategic point of view, it is important to control the oceans. The Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz are the choke points for the flow of international energy and materials.
The missile and drone technology possessed by Iran and its men has given them the ability to shape the fate of these critical shipping lanes. If the import and export of the sea ** is blocked, the West will inevitably fall into an energy crisis. The truce demands made by Iran and the Houthis against Israel are no longer a single demand, but a direct challenge to the bottom line of Israel and the United States. The curtailment of Israeli military action would mean that Hamas's resistance would translate into a symbolic victory. In a country like Israel, which has the full support of the United States, it cannot even eliminate the Iranian armed forces, so where will the other ** countries in the Middle East go?In reality, they may not have much choice but to end up trying to get closer to Iran or even decide to expel U.S. troops. In the current silent naval showdown, although the strength shown by Iran and its people is far inferior to that of the United States, the sensitive points touched on may instantly rewrite the strategic balance of the entire region and even the world. And the United States, in the area of which it considers itself the proudest, is being challenged like never before.
A new Cold War pattern dominated by peripheral powers is likely to emerge, and U.S. influence in the Middle East may truly reach its twilight moment. Now, the United States is facing a test, and it will take time to answer how to respond.