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Steel Bait

This mission marks a pivotal moment in Iran’s naval warfare: for the first time, Harpoon missiles—AWM-84 anti-ship weapons delivered by the United States prior to the revolution—have become operational in the Persian Gulf under Iranian command. Though these missiles were originally supplied before the 1979 Islamic Revolution, stringent embargoes and political isolation have until now prevented their deployment in combat.
Their imminent use represents both a technical and symbolic leap: Iran’s naval forces are now entering a new era of precision engagement in the gulf, leveraging advanced Western weaponry to counter threats from the Iraqi navy. The strategic calculus has shifted. Previously, Iranian surface units relied primarily on domestically produced weapons and Soviet-era systems for coastal defense. The Harpoon's integration reflects a rare moment in which Western-origin hardware could enter the Iranian arsenal—and importantly, its first live employment in regional naval combat marks a watershed in both capability and doctrine.
This operation is not only a tactical strike against hostile Iraqi missile boats but also a demonstration of Iran’s evolving naval posture. It signals to adversaries and allies alike that Iran can now field and deploy Western-origin advanced anti-ship missiles, despite decades of restrictions. The success of this engagement will pave the way for potential doctrinal shifts in how Iranian naval strategy incorporates diverse weapon systems going forward.

Based on CMO Mission: Harpoon,1980

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