60 percent of IRGC fast boats still threaten shipping lanes: WSJ
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- More than 60 percent of Iran’s fast-attack boats remain operational, report says.
- Analysts warn small craft remain hard to detect and neutralize.
A report by the Wall Street Journal says that while the United States has destroyed a significant portion of Iran’s naval assets, it has failed to neutralize the fleet used by Tehran to exert control over the Strait of Hormuz.
The report highlights continued concerns over Iran’s asymmetric naval capabilities, particularly the fast-attack boats operated by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
Majority of fast boats still active
According to the newspaper, more than 60 percent of IRGC fast-attack boats remain intact and continue to pose a threat to maritime traffic in the region.
Military analyst Farzin Nadimi of the Washington Institute was cited as saying the fleet remains largely operational despite recent strikes.
Small vessels difficult to track
Former Pentagon official David de Roches noted that smaller vessels are significantly harder to detect using satellite surveillance compared to larger naval ships, giving them a tactical advantage in confined waters.
Former British Navy officer Chris Long also said the IRGC stores hundreds of small attack boats in underground facilities along Iran’s rocky coastline, complicating efforts to target them.
Strategic challenge in the Strait of Hormuz
Experts told the paper that fully neutralizing these assets, particularly the smaller fast boats, would take considerable time for the United States.
The Strait of Hormuz remains a key point of tension amid ongoing regional conflict, with maritime security continuing to be a central concern for global energy shipments.
Ongoing diplomatic talks
The report also comes as Iranian and American delegations concluded a 15-hour round of talks in Islamabad, with further negotiations expected.
Sources cited by both sides say disputes over the Strait of Hormuz remain central, while Tehran has indicated no change on the ground unless Washington agrees to a broader deal.
