Alerts

Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps: The Revolution Continues beyond Iran’s Borders

No restraint in Revolutionary Guard's campaigns
Share this
Saudi rulers bow to global arrogance

Table of Contents

Saudi rulers bow to global arrogance
Saudi rulers bow to global arrogance
(Tasnim, Iran)1

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry’s April 6, 2016, visit to Bahrain focused on Iran’s involvement in the Gulf States’ and Yemen’s affairs. Kerry met with the king of Bahrain, Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, with his Bahraini counterpart, and with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). During his meeting with the Saudi foreign minister, Adel al-Jubeir, Kerry revealed that the U.S. Fifth Fleet, whose headquarters are in Bahrain, and other international forces operating in the region had recently intercepted four ships ferrying weapons from Iran to the Houthi rebels in Yemen.2 Kerry asserted, “We will continue to push back against this kind of provocation in the region.”3 Jubeir again slammed Iran’s involvement in Yemen, interference in the affairs of other states in the region, and ongoing attempts to smuggle weapons into these countries.

During Kerry’s meeting with his Bahraini counterpart, Sheikh Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, he said that, while Iran had indeed contributed to resolving the Syrian crisis, many of the issues concerning Iran were still current: “Clearly, the challenge of Yemen, the challenge of activities that are disruptive here in Bahrain, the challenge of activities that are disruptive in Syria, remain a challenge.”  Al Khalifa, for his part, noted that Iran’s “missile program is moving forward with full support from the top of the leadership of the Islamic Republic, and we are seeing the hegemonic interventions through proxies in several parts of our region continuing unabated without even heeding to [sic] their responsibilities of rules of good neighborliness.”4

After the nuclear agreement was signed on July 14, 2015, the Gulf States felt all the more threatened by Iran and concerned that the support the United States had given them previously was eroding. Iran, for its part, particularly by means of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), stepped up its involvement in Yemen, making use of Lebanese Hizbullah among others. It also continues its clandestine and intelligence activity in the Gulf States. Some of this is carried out by Lebanese Hizbullah, which, despite its deep involvement in the Syrian crisis, keeps contributing to Iran’s subversion efforts in other arenas.

Khamenei tweet

Judging by the harsh, threatening declarations of IRGC Commander Mohammad Ali Jafari during the IRGC Commanders Supreme Council in Tehran on April 5, the Gulf States’ leaders have good reason to worry. Jafari again ridiculed these leaders for “stupid behavior” in trying to stand with the United States against Iran. “At present, Arab states [kingdoms] like Saudi Arabia and Bahrain and other states in the Persian Gulf are the epitome of lack of political development, and the IRGC has already taken measures to deal with their loutishness and stupidity, which stem from their reliance on the United States… We await an order from the Leader.”

Regarding the campaign in Yemen, which continues despite the attempts to forge a stable ceasefire, Jafari said the Arabs would rise up against their governments to avenge their attacks on the Houthis. He stressed that Iran’s support for the Houthis, like its support for its allies in “Palestine,” would continue; so would Iran’s efforts on behalf of the territorial integrity of Syria and the other Muslim countries. For his part, the Supreme Leader of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, tweeted on September 9, 2015, that the viewers of his site, when asked to choose his most significant remark over the past year (the Iranian year ended on March 20), chose his assertion that in another 25 years Israel would cease to exist.5

Jafari made clear that, while the IRGC continues to defend the Iranian regime and promote its objectives internally, the IRGC also reacts to external circumstances to adapt to the goals of the revolution. The third stage of the revolution, he said, is progressing, and the IRGC forces (in different arenas) are working to accomplish those objectives. “The Iranian Revolution has become a huge force that is expanding beyond Iran’s borders to become an effective regional force.”6

Over the past few months Jafari’s assertions have been borne out. As Kerry emphasized, Iran has sent numerous weapons consignments to the Houthis in Yemen. These have included AK-47 assault rifles, rocket-propelled grenade launchers, PKM general-purpose machineguns, PKM spare barrels, and 60-mm mortar tubes.7 The many seizures of weapons (apparently not all the shipments have been intercepted) by foreign naval forces operating in the region indicate that the West is conducting close intelligence surveillance of Iran’s activity. The West thereby seeks to calm the Gulf States and particularly Saudi Arabia as its battles the Houthi rebels on its southern border with Yemen. The rebels have sometimes fired rockets and even SCUD missiles into Saudi territory and are also trying to hit sensitive oil facilities. 

In March 2016, the Lebanese and Gulf media reported that Hizbullah missile and rocket experts were training and assisting the Houthi rebels with precision barrages at Saudi territory and force concentrations of the Saudi-led coalition operating in Yemen. Some of the rockets are locally produced.

According to media claims, senior officers of Hizbullah rocket and missiles units in Yemen had been killed.8, 9 The Hizbullah-affiliated media in Lebanon announced the deaths of the operatives in the missile units but did not give details on their roles, stating only that they had “fulfilled their holy jihadist duty against the Wahabi infidel mercenaries.10, 11 In addition, Iran keeps funneling advanced antitank weapons to the Houthis with which to hit tanks of the Saudis and their coalition in Yemen.12

Three Hizbullah officers killed in Yemen
Three Hizbullah officers killed in Yemen (Al Arabiya)13

Although Iranian conservatives and the IRGC may have lost their “no negotiations” battle over the nuclear deal, they are determined to show that they are still guided by the values of the revolution and the imperative to take it to its next stages.  Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani continues to be the IRGC’s nemesis, and remains influential despite their ongoing efforts to counteract him. His March 23, 2016, tweet (which was subsequently deleted) that “The world belongs to dialogue and not to missiles” was harshly criticized by Khamenei, who responded on Twitter: “That some inside say tomorrow world is of negotiation, not world of missiles, if said unwarily, it’s unawareness; otherwise it’s treason.” Khamenei added: “Islamic Republic must use all means. I support political talks in global issues, but not with everyone. Today is era of both missile & talk.”14

Khamenei tweetTo validate the Leader’s words and weaken the camp of President Hassan Rouhani and Rafsanjani and those who, with an eye to Iran’s June 2017 elections, are trying hard to translate the nuclear agreement into economic and political achievements, the IRGC’s missile command has increased the pace of its missile experiments.

In addition, Iran’s ongoing subversive activity in assisting Lebanese Hizbullah in Bahrain, Yemen, Syria, and other places is intended to signal, as the IRGC commander made clear, that Iran will keep working to export the Iranian revolution to the changing region, with the aim of making it supportive of Iran and part of its sphere of influence. In this context, Iran’s supply of missiles and rockets to the Houthis in Yemen, Lebanese Hizbullah, and the Palestinian terror organizations is of great importance. It enables the IRGC to keep developing the missile and rocket industry and to test its products in different military theaters and thereby upgrade them. Such activity is also a way of taunting Rouhani and Rafsanjani.

Standing against this trend is Saudi Arabia, which continues to draw blood in Yemen and to pay large sums for the ongoing campaign in Syria – two arenas where Iran is heavily involved. Saudi Arabia is trying to enhance cooperation within the Sunni coalition, as seen in King Salman’s April 2016, visit to Egypt and the tightening of ties with Turkey. The Saudis are thus trying to forge an effective blocking coalition against Iran’s expansionist ambitions in the region. Iran and Saudi Arabia will continue to struggle, both directly and through proxies, over territory and influence with the aim of shaping the Middle East, which has been undergoing dramatic changes since the Sykes-Picot Agreement was signed 100 years ago.

* * *

Notes

Lt.-Col. (ret.) Michael Segall

IDF Lt.-Col. (ret.) Michael (Mickey) Segall, an expert on strategic issues with a focus on Iran, terrorism, and the Middle East, is a senior analyst at Acumen Risk Advisors. He previously served as a senior analyst at the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs.
Share this

Subscribe to Daily Alert

The Daily Alert – Israel news digest appears every Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday.

Related Items

Stay Informed, Always

Get the latest news, insights, and updates directly in your inbox—be the first to know!

Subscribe to Jerusalem Issue Briefs
The Daily Alert – Israel news digest appears every Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday.







Notifications

The Jerusalem Center
What makes a child believe killing a #Jew is justified?

In PA textbooks, Jews are called liars and frauds; their fate: elimination. This is #indoctrination—not #education. But change is happening. On East to West, @IMPACT_SE CEO Marcus Sheff exposes how #UNRWA-funded schools are fueling extremism—and what real reform looks like.  Listen now on Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/2JHqh973U  Watch on YouTube: youtu.be/8OkJTGNfVUc

11:43am
The Jerusalem Center
Highlights from the @Jerusalem_Post Annual Conference in NYC:

Dr. @Dan_Diker, President of the JCFA: “October 7 wasn’t just an attack on Israel — it was a blow to the U.S. on Israeli soil. It demands moral clarity and a united front between Israel and the U.S. to defeat jihadist terror.”

2:20pm
The Jerusalem Center
@XAVIAERD says it like it is

Well, @XAVIAERD says it like it is: If you’re part of “#Queers for #Palestine,” he’ll pay for your flight to #Gaza. Go see for yourself how they treat LGBTQ+ people over there. Don’t miss this bold take on the Israel-Hamas war and the woke right.

2:32pm
The Jerusalem Center
“This isn’t Israel vs. Hamas — it’s the frontline of the free world.”

“This isn’t Israel vs. Hamas — it’s the frontline of the free world.” On Our Middle East by @JNS_org, @Dan_Diker@KhaledAbuToameh (JCFA/@GatestoneInst) break it down: If Hamas isn’t crushed, Iran wins. The jihadis—from #Gaza to your campus—get the green light. Diker: “This war is for the West.” No fluff. No filters. Just raw insight from two insiders who actually know what’s going on.  Watch: youtu.be/4Aq_zcbb4Yo

2:15pm
The Jerusalem Center
5/5 Lt. Col. Kalo on East to West with @smartinezamir:

“This operation showcases Israel’s strategic intelligence superiority both regionally and globally. It demonstrates the moral commitment to recovered soldiers and also strengthens Israel’s position with allies.” youtube.com/watch?v=nIvNNi

2:07pm
The Jerusalem Center
4/5 The operation built on intelligence gathered during the 2019 #Baumel recovery

#Mossad agents operated under cover in #Syria for years, visiting a graveyard multiple times under fire to collect remains for DNA matching. The intelligence community’s evolution combines technology, big data analysis, and human intelligence capabilities.

2:02pm
The Jerusalem Center
3/5 This recovery coincided with the release of Israeli hostage Edan Alexander

This recovery coincided with the release of Israeli hostage Edan Alexander from #Hamas in #Gaza, significantly boosting national morale amid an ongoing conflict now stretching over 18 months. The dual successes demonstrate #Israel‘s unwavering commitment to bringing all soldiers home.

1:58pm
The Jerusalem Center
2/5 The operation used the power vacuum following #Assad’s fall from #Damascus

Lt. Col. Avi Kalo, former head of IDF Prisoners & Missing Persons Division, calls it “an outstanding event that brings hope and new spirit to the people of Israel.” The operation utilized the power vacuum following #Assad‘s fall from #Damascus, allowing #Israeli intelligence to deploy ground capabilities in #Syria.

1:56pm
The Jerusalem Center
1/5 Israeli forces recovered the remains of Sergeant First Class Zvi Feldman

In an unprecedented operation, Israeli forces have recovered the remains of Sergeant First Class Zvi #Feldman, missing since the 1982 Battle of Sultan Yacoub. The complex #Mossad mission was conducted deep within #Syrian territory, 43 years after his disappearance. This follows the successful 2019 recovery of Zachary #Baumel from the same battle.

1:54pm
The Jerusalem Center
A molotov attack on a bus = a “barbecue party”?

That’s what #Palestinian kids are being taught under @UNRWA  — from grade school to graduation. This isn’t education. It’s indoctrination. Marcus Sheff of @IMPACT_SE  breaks it down with @smartinezamir

12:51pm

Close