WSJ: US destroyed bulk of Iran’s regular navy, IRGC fleet largely intact

The United States has destroyed much of Iran’s regular navy, while a significant portion of its smaller military vessels remains operational, The Wall Street Journal reports.

According to the report, more than 60% of the fast-attack boats operated by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) remain in service, allowing Tehran to maintain influence over the Strait of Hormuz.

While Iran’s conventional naval fleet has reportedly been largely destroyed, the country continues to exert effective control over the strategically vital waterway through IRGC forces.

Iran’s conventional navy primarily maintains larger warships used for symbolic power projection and limited long-distance missions. 

In contrast, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps operates a separate, highly agile fleet of small craft designed to dominate strategic waterways through missiles, naval mines, and pressure tactics against commercial shipping, making them significantly more difficult to engage.

By Jeyhun Aghazada