Executive Summary:
The launch of the U.S.–Israeli strikes on February 28 devastated Iran’s conventional navy—the Islamic Republic of Iran Navy (IRIN)—sinking numerous frigates, corvettes, and submarines while docked or at sea. The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy (IRGCN) remains dangerous, despite heavy losses, due to its decentralized structure and asymmetric warfare tactics. The destruction proved that expensive, conventional fleets ar…