The US military announced it will begin a blockade of all Iranian ports and coastal areas on Monday, as President Donald Trump sought to pressure Iran in a move that risks driving oil prices even higher and renewing the war. In response, the Islamic Republic has deployed its elite Takavaran Navy commandos along the country's southern coast, a report said.
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Unlike special forces and elite commando units operated by the leading military powers of the world, not much is known about those of Iran. Tehran has claimed in the recent past that its elite forces are now fully armed with indigenously developed weapons.
Takavaran naval commandos: Iran's finest?
According to available information, both the national military and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) have their own elite Takavaran commando units. Their deployment along the coasts was described by Iranian state media as a defensive measure to counter a possible invasion by the US–Israeli alliance.
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The word Takavaran literally means "fast raiders". In Iranian military doctrine, their primary task is a quick response to any threat on the coastlines. These marine units are reportedly trained in silent amphibious assaults so that they can ambush and scatter enemy landing forces before the arrival of larger formations. "By the time he becomes a full-fledged commando, the Takavaran soldier is an expert combat diver, checked out in both conventional SCUBA systems as well as closed-circuit breathing apparatus. They are qualified to jump with all of their equipment in both day and nighttime conditions, including landings in water," a report said.
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Takavaran commandos are also taught maritime interception operations. They can be deployed to launch strikes on enemy ships, retake hijacked vessels, and neutralise small, fast-moving threats, Defence Security Asia said in a report.
Apart from swift coastal reconnaissance, intelligence gathering, underwater attack techniques, and maritime hostage rescue operations, they are also trained in underwater demolitions, the Defence Security Asia report said. During naval exercises, Takavaran commandos have been spotted using speedboats, helicopters, and reconnaissance drones. The teams also possess expertise in underwater explosions and sophisticated diving techniques.
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The regime has also equipped them with fast attack boats and rigid inflatable boats, as well as advanced communications systems. These are designed specifically for maritime operations, allowing them to board enemy ships if necessary and land lethal initial blows before the enemy can realise what has hit them.
The special forces of Iran are said to number in the thousands. However, it is generally accepted that they cannot match the US Navy SEALs or other special units in terms of weaponry and technical advancement. Having seen little to no action in decades, they are not considered battle-hardened. However, the advantage of fighting on home turf could give Takavaran units a significant edge if it comes to exchanging blows with US forces.
