Iran announced that the Shahid Mahdavi, an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) warship, has crossed the equator into the Southern Hemisphere for the first time. This warship is on a “long-distance mission” in international waters, as reported by the Iranian state-owned PressTV propaganda outlet. The Shahid Mahdavi is a massive container ship converted into a multi-purpose warship equipped with advanced weaponry such as three-dimensional phased array radar, sea-to-sea and sea-to-air missiles, and advanced communication systems.
Iranian state media claimed that the Shahid Mahdavi is conducting its biggest mission in terms of distance and operation, without providing further details. The warship’s deployment was accompanied by a video showing its capabilities, including launching a ballistic missile capable of striking targets up to 620 miles away. Iran tested the warship’s missile-launching capabilities in February, demonstrating its capability to hit designated targets with its missiles.
The deployment of the Shahid Mahdavi in international waters comes following threats made by Iran-backed Houthi terrorists of Yemen to target merchant ships delivering cargo to Israeli ports in the Mediterranean Sea. The Houthis have been attacking commercial ships, creating insecurity in the region. Houthi spokesman Yahya Saree stated that they will target any ships heading to Israeli ports in the Mediterranean Sea. Major General Hossein Salami of the IRGC reiterated that the oceangoing warships can be present anywhere in the world, posing a threat to those intending to create insecurity.
Overall, the Shahid Mahdavi’s deployment and capabilities demonstrate Iran’s assertiveness in international waters, raising concerns about potential conflicts and disruptions to maritime activities.
