Pishtaz | 2026-02-19

The waters of the Middle East are a critical artery for global commerce, but they are also a stage for rising tensions.

The unprofessional and aggressive actions of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) are creating a volatile environment where a single miscalculation could have devastating consequences.

The IRGC's reckless behavior ranges from harassing commercial ships to performing dangerous maneuvers against naval vessels, endangering sailors' safety and global economic stability.

This pattern of behavior, marked by a clear lack of operational discipline, demands scrutiny.

Reckless conduct in the Arabian Sea

A prime example of the IRGC's provocative behavior occurred recently in the Arabian Sea.

A US Navy F-35C, operating from the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, reportedly shot down an Islamic regime drone, according to The War Zone.

US Central Command (CENTCOM) reported that the unmanned aircraft, identified as a Shahed-139, "aggressively approached" the carrier with "unclear intent."

A CENTCOM spokesperson stated the drone "unnecessarily maneuvered toward the ship" despite de-escalatory measures by US forces.

This incident highlights a dangerous disregard for standard maritime and aviation protocols, significantly increasing the risk of an unintended military clash.

Endangering commercial shipping

The IRGC's dangerous activities extend beyond military encounters, impacting commercial operations, regional stability and international security through provocative and destabilizing actions.

In a separate incident in the Strait of Hormuz, the IRGC harassed a US-flagged and US-crewed merchant vessel, the Stena Imperative.

According to the same report, two IRGC boats and a Mohajer drone approached the tanker at high speeds, threatening to board and seize it.

The guided-missile destroyer USS McFaul had to intervene to ensure the vessel's safe passage.

As CENTCOM noted, this "unnecessary aggression near commercial vessels increases risks of collision, miscalculation and regional destabilization."

Such actions by the Islamic Republic directly threaten the lives of civilian mariners and jeopardize the free flow of commerce.

The IRGC's consistent operational discipline failures pose a significant and ongoing threat to the stability of the region.

Their unclear intentions and unprofessional maneuvers create a high-stakes environment where defensive actions can be misinterpreted, leading to rapid escalation.

While the Islamic regime's state media often portrays these encounters as "normal and lawful," the actions themselves tell a different story.

The international community must acknowledge the significant risks posed by the IRGC's reckless conduct, which threatens regional stability, maritime security and global economic interests.

The IRGC's persistent harassment of naval and commercial vessels risks escalating into a broader conflict, potentially leading to catastrophic consequences for global stability and security.