Iran Revolutionary Guards ready to escort Gaza ships

ran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei waves to his supporters during a ceremony to mark the death anniversary of the Islamic Republic founder Ayatollah Khomeini at Khomeini's shrine in southern Tehran. (Reuters)

By REUTERS

TEHRAN: Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards are ready to provide a military escort to cargo ships trying to break Israel's blockade of Gaza, a representative of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Sunday.

"Iran's Revolutionary Guards naval forces are fully prepared to escort the peace and freedom convoys to Gaza with all their powers and capabilities," Ali Shirazi, Khamenei's representative inside the Revolutionary Guards, was quoted as saying by the semi-official Mehr news agency.

Any intervention by the Iranian military would be considered highly provocative by Israel which accuses Iran of supplying weapons to Hamas, the Islamist movement which rules Gaza.

Iran does not recognise the Israeli state and President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has often predicted its imminent demise.

Last Monday Israeli troops killed nine activists on board one ship in a convoy trying to deliver aid to Gaza, sparking international outrage, especially in Muslim countries.

Another ship was boarded on Saturday and pro-Palestinian activists have promised more as they challenge the blockade imposed four years ago with the stated aim of stopping arms getting to Hamas.

Shirazi said Iran should encourage more international efforts to break the blockade. "We should expose our enemies to a spontaneous global action and not let them achieve their heinous goals," he said.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said Israel will continue to prevent ships from reaching the shore and creating "an Iranian port in Gaza," a reference to Iran's support for Hamas.

The Revolutionary Guards, with their own navy, air force and command structure separate from the regular armed forces, are seen as fiercely loyal to the Supreme Leader.

"If the Supreme Leader issues an order for this then the Revolutionary Guard naval forces will do their best to secure the ships," Shirazi said. "It is Iran's duty to defend the innocent people of Gaza."

Israel and its ally the United States have refused to rule out military action against Iran to prevent it from getting nuclear arms capability — something Israel sees as a threat to its survival.

Tehran says its nuclear program is for energy generation and medical purposes and calls its nuclear-armed adversaries hypocrites for trying to block its technological progress.

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AMEEN

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Nasruminallahi Fathan Qareeb- By the Help of Allah,Victory is Near..Inshalllah. Inna Allaha Maas Sabireen- Verily,Allah is with the patient and persevering Down with the oppressors,tyrants and arrogant Pharaohs of this day who have mercilessly butchered, maimed, starved to death thousands of innocent men,women and children. The spilled blood, starving, emaciated and wounded - it can never ever ever go in vain.

KHALED

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good to know that atleast someone has the guts to come forward helping Palestinians... shame on others!

GEORGE

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a military escort without a proper military umbrella is a very foolish action indeed. These vessels can be blown out of the water very easily . A military confrontation of that nature will not be permitted.

AHMED DEODAR

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I dont know about the true intentions of Iran But it should be duly recognized and act as a wake up call for other Muslim and non-Muslim selfish countries wearing a fake mask and singing songs of peace while innocents people are killed on a daily basis. Gone are the times of pharaohs and tyrants ... in comes the mighty countries.

ANWAR HUSSAIN

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Dear Bro Ameen, Insha Allah as you said, the victory will be of Muslims at the end. But we all Muslims irrespective of geographic location do have a duty as well. Firstly to follow the path of Allah and Rasool and secondly to be united all the time. I guess if this 2 basic guidelines we follow, no body in this world can harm or trouble us. May Allah Guide All of us to follow correct path.
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