TEHRAN - The commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Navy says his force has furnished its vessels with long-range missiles, as the country works to strengthen its naval presence around the world.

Rear Admiral Alireza Tangsiri told reporters on Wednesday that a “revolution” has occurred in the might and capabilities of the IRGC’s naval forces. “We will utilize artificial intelligence to control the recently installed missiles,” said the commander, adding that the projectiles can be guided even after being fired.

Tangsiri added that two brand new missile corvettes will soon be added to the IRGC navy. “All of our equipment is fully designed and developed by Iranian scientists, who have been working day and night to ensure the security of Iranian borders,” he commented.

In August, the IRGC navy took delivery of sophisticated homegrown missile systems, unmanned aerial vehicles, and armament featuring state-of-the-art technologies suitable for electronic warfare.  

Iran has been trying to strengthen its naval presence in both regional and international waters in the past years. It added a sophisticated warship to its Caspian Sea Fleet last month, which is a 1,400-ton destroyer capable of launching cruise missiles while traveling at 30 knots.

Apart from strengthening its naval forces in domestic and regional waters, Iran has been trying to step foot outside The Persian Gulf and the Caspian Sea. The 86th flotilla of the Iranian Navy completed a circumnavigation of the world in May of this year, after traveling 63,000 kilometers and crossing the equator four times. The country has also announced plans to set up a permanent base in Antarctica. "We have ownership in Antarctica and the plan is to hoist the Iranian flag there and establish a permanent base," Iranian Navy Commander Rear Admiral Shahram Irani declared in September. 

Tehran’s military developments come amid years of sanctions and pressure from the West.