IRGC: US Unable to Sustain Long-Term Military Presence in West Asia

The United States lacks the capacity to maintain a long-term military presence in West Asia, Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) spokesman Brigadier General Hossein Mohebbi has said, claiming that US warships have been forced to retreat at least 400 kilometers from the Strait of Hormuz amid mounting logistical and morale pressures. Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Mohebbi said the US military was facing severe attrition involving both its personnel and naval assets, making its current regional posture increasingly difficult to sustain.

Mohebbi said maintaining naval deployments requires extensive logistical support and imposes significant financial and operational costs on Washington. He argued that Iran’s asymmetric deterrence capabilities have increased the pressure on US forces, claiming that the American Navy has effectively withdrawn from the Persian Gulf. “Before the Ramadan War, about 30 to 40 US warships and naval vessels were present inside the Persian Gulf, but today not a single one of them is in this area,” he said, adding that US warships had moved at least 400 kilometers away from the Strait of Hormuz.

The IRGC spokesman further highlighted Iran’s expanding missile capabilities, saying Tehran can strike high-value targets at considerable distances. Referring to Iran’s ability to project power beyond its immediate coastline, Mohebbi claimed that Iranian forces had targeted an aircraft carrier approximately 500 kilometers away several days earlier. He warned that the United States would not be able to sustain its current military posture in the region indefinitely because of what he described as growing pressure on its forces, equipment and logistical infrastructure.