Iranian military insiders: Over one million people have been organized in preparation for ground combat, and a large number of young people have submitted applications to join the fight!
The military strikes launched by the United States and Israel against Iran entered their 27th day on the 26th.
Despite recent news of negotiations, military actions by various parties are still ongoing. From the early morning of that day, explosions were reported in multiple locations including Hamedan, Isfahan, Bandar Abbas, and Mashhad in eastern Iran, with air defense systems activated multiple times. At the same time, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps launched the 82nd round of "True Promise-4" operations, striking U.S. military bases and Israeli targets. Iranian analysts pointed out that the U.S. illusion of quickly toppling the Iranian regime has been shattered, while the so-called negotiations may be a prelude to larger-scale military actions.
On the 26th, U.S. President Trump said that Iran allowed 10 oil tankers to pass through the Strait of Hormuz as a "gift." Among them, 8 tankers fully loaded with oil and flying the Pakistani flag are traversing the Strait of Hormuz. Trump stated that Iran allowed some oil tankers to pass as a gesture of goodwill toward negotiations. There has been no response from the Iranian side yet.
On the 26th local time, informed personnel from the Iranian military said that Iran has organized over one million people to prepare for ground combat. It is reported that in recent days, a large number of Iranian youth have submitted applications to join the Basij militia, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, and army centers to participate in the fight.
Key Military Figure Controlling the Strait of Hormuz Killed, Israeli Military Releases Details
On March 26th local time, the Israel Defense Forces issued a statement confirming that an Israeli airstrike on the southern Iranian port city of Bandar Abbas killed Ali Reza Tangsiri, the naval commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, and several high-ranking naval officials.
The statement noted that at the time of the airstrike, Tangsiri was holding a meeting with several senior naval officers of the Revolutionary Guard. Besides Tangsiri, the head of Iranian naval intelligence, Behnam Rezai, was also killed in this operation, though the names of other high-ranking officers killed were not released by Israel.
According to the statement, Tangsiri had served as naval commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps for about eight years, during which time he “was responsible for attacks on oil tankers and merchant ships, repeatedly threatening the navigation and trade security of the Strait of Hormuz and international waters.”
The Israel Defense Forces also stated that in the current round of conflict, Tangsiri “led efforts to close the Strait of Hormuz, planned maritime attacks, and was one of the key figures disrupting the global economy.”
Since 2018, Tangsiri had led the IRGC Navy and was a hardline commander who rose from the ranks. Under his leadership, the IRGC Navy played a key role in controlling the waters of the Strait of Hormuz and conducting rapid, small-scale operations against Iranian enemy merchant vessels and warships.
Bandar Abbas, where Tangsiri died, is one of Iran’s most important naval and economic bases, located in the south and regarded as the main hub for the IRGC Navy’s control of the Strait of Hormuz. Unlike the regular Iranian Navy, the IRGC Navy’s command structure answers more directly to the Supreme Leader and is strategically more aggressive. As commander, Tangsiri was not just a military leader but was also considered an executor of Iran’s “gray-zone conflict,” frequently involved in maritime interceptions, seizures, and deterrence operations.
"U.S. Considers Diverting Weapons Meant for Ukraine to the Middle East"
According to a March 26 report by Reference News, citing Reuters, the Washington Post quoted three informed sources as saying that, due to the Iran conflict causing a shortage of key munitions for U.S. forces, the U.S. Department of Defense is considering diverting weapons originally intended for Ukraine to the Middle East.
Reportedly, the weapons that may be redirected include air defense interceptor missiles, which were purchased under a NATO-initiated plan last year. According to this plan, NATO partner countries purchased American weapons for Ukraine.
This consideration comes as U.S. military actions in the Middle East have escalated. Brad Cooper, commander of U.S. Central Command, said on the 25th that U.S. forces had struck over 10,000 targets in Iran and are gradually weakening Iran’s ability to project military power abroad.
A Pentagon spokesperson said the Department of Defense will "ensure that U.S. troops and allies, as well as partners, have all the equipment required to fight and win."
The Pentagon, U.S. State Department, and NATO all did not immediately respond to Reuters' requests for comment.
U.S. Envoy Confirms Pakistan Is Serving as an Intermediary between U.S. and Iran
It was learned on the 26th local time that U.S. special envoy Steve Whitcoff confirmed that the United States has been negotiating with Iran through diplomatic channels in Pakistan.
Whitcoff, reporting to Trump at a cabinet meeting at the White House, said, "I can report to you today that working together with your foreign policy team, we have put forward a list of 15 action items that form the framework of a peace agreement. This list has been conveyed through the Pakistani government acting as a mediator."
Whitcoff said that so far, the framework “has facilitated strong and positive signals and dialogue,” but he refused to reveal details of the specific terms, citing the sensitivity of diplomatic consultations.
Trump: If U.S. and Iran Reach the “Right Agreement” the Strait of Hormuz Will Be Open
If Iran and the U.S. can reach the “right agreement,” the Strait of Hormuz will be open.
At the cabinet meeting, Trump said, "They (Iran) are begging for an agreement. Let's see if we can get an agreement. If we can get the right agreement, then the Strait of Hormuz will be open." "Even right now, we are not sure if there are mines there. You should know, they have 22 minelayers."
Trump also said that if Iran does not give up nuclear weapons, the United States “will be their worst nightmare.”
Analysts Say So-Called "Negotiations" Are Nothing But a Scam
With regard to regional developments, Iranian political analyst Yazdi said that after nearly a month of war, it has been proven that the U.S. fantasy of a rapid collapse of the Iranian regime has been shattered. The U.S. has not only failed to achieve its goals, but has also affected the global economy. Trump’s decisions have damaged U.S. national interests, diminished international prestige, and revealed America’s declining strength and influence, as it is unable to rally traditional allies in large-scale military operations.
In addition, another Iranian political analyst, Mousavian, pointed out that the so-called “negotiations” are nothing but a scam by Trump. He believes the U.S. plans to launch large-scale military operations on Iran’s Persian Gulf coast in the coming days, including heavy bombardment of southern Iranian infrastructure and amphibious operations. He emphasized that the main goal of the U.S. and Israel in launching the war is “the complete destruction of Iran,” but Iran has demonstrated through its actions that it is prepared, has disrupted the initial U.S.-Israeli plans, and is now preparing for potentially larger-scale U.S.-Israeli military actions.
Source: National Business Daily
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