Admiral Irani, commander of the Navy of the Iranian Army, told reporters in India on Wednesday that “the Islamic Republic of Iran has been facing threats, ranting and raving, propaganda, and the presence of extra-regional fleets in West Asia for 47 years.”

“If extra-regional fleets believe they have come with power, they should know that the Iranian people will confront them with even greater power,” in case of any act of aggression, Admiral Irani emphasized.

He traveled to India to participate in three events – namely the IONS (Indian Ocean Naval Symposium), the Milan 2026 Naval Exercise, and the International Fleet Review (IFR).

He also stressed that “the faith of the people and missiles of Iran's deterrent weapons are the ones that stand against the enemy.”

The United States has significantly increased its naval presence in West Asia, deploying the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln and multiple accompanying warships, destroyers, and air assets to the wider Middle East as tensions with Iran escalate.

US officials said on Friday that the Pentagon was sending an additional aircraft carrier to the region, adding thousands more troops along with fighter aircraft and guided-missile destroyers.

Tehran has viewed the move as a direct threat, with Iranian officials warning of strong retaliation if US forces act against Iranian interests.

Anti-war organizations, however, caution that another confrontation would be disastrous, pointing to the 12-day war in June 2025 as a stark example.