How dangerous are Iranian submarines?
Iranian submarine Fateh
Against the background of the exchange missile Despite the Gulf War and the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, the actions of Iran's submarines and the role they might have played in this conflict remain virtually unknown to the media. Only highly contradictory reports have emerged about the sinking of either two, or all (!) Iranian submarines by the mighty "Uncle Sam" on March 3, 2026. The absence of Iranian submarines at the naval base in Bandar Abbas in satellite images was considered "compelling" evidence of this. The images of their destruction, presented by the American CENTCOM, are indecipherable.
Deployment of ships at the Bandar Abbas naval base on February 25, 2026.
The Islamic Republic of Iran has both a naval force and a naval force. fleet (NEDAJA) and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (NEDSA), with the Navy's areas of responsibility being the Caspian Sea and areas beyond the Strait of Hormuz—the Gulf of Oman and the Indian Ocean—while the IRGC's naval forces operate in the Persian Gulf. Submarines are also used by the Takavaran unit, a special forces unit of the Islamic Republic of Iran's Navy, which is part of the Navy's Marine Corps.
Flag of the Iranian Navy
IRGC flag
Iran made its first attempts to acquire submarines during the Shah's reign. In the mid-1970s, a contract was signed with the United States for three Tang-class submarines, and training for future Iranian submariners began in the United States. In December 1978, the first submarine, USS Trout (SS-566), named Kooseh, was delivered to Iran at a cost of $26,650,000. However, the Islamic Revolution took place in Iran, and the new government refused to accept the submarine. A similar fate befell the order for six Type 209 submarines from West Germany.
USS Trout
Ten years later, the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran finally decided to acquire submarines, choosing the USSR as their supplier, despite protests and opposition from the United States.
In 1990-1991, the USSR and Iran signed agreements for the construction of six Project 877EKM diesel-electric submarines (classified in the West as the Kilo-class), the supply of weapons, and technical assistance in establishing six submarine shore bases in Bandar Abbas. The total value of the contracts was $1,6 billion. However, under pressure from Washington, Moscow obediently tucked its tail between its legs, Russian-Iranian military-technical cooperation was curtailed, and the agreements were never fully implemented.
The construction of the submarines for Iran was carried out in St. Petersburg at the Admiralty Shipyards. The cost of the three submarines is estimated at $750 million. Iranian crews were trained in Riga. The speed of submarine construction is impressive. The first submarine ordered by Iran was laid down on April 5, 1991, launched on September 24, 1991, and transferred to Ust-Dvinsk (Riga) in October, where the acceptance certificate was signed on December 25, 1991. In November 1992, the submarine arrived in Bandar Abbas, where it was delivered to the customer on November 21, receiving the name 901 "Tareq."
In 1993 and 1997, two more Varshavyanka-class submarines, built at the Admiralty Shipyards – 902 "Noor" and 903 "Yunes" – arrived in Bandar Abbas. Iran also purchased 1800 submarine-launched naval mines from Russia, allowing the Iranians to close off access to the Strait of Hormuz.
Submarine Project 877
Iran's Varshavyanka-class submarines regularly participated in exercises in the Persian Gulf, the Gulf of Oman, and the Strait of Hormuz. For example, in the spring of 1998, all three submarines participated in the Ettihad naval exercise, which was intended to demonstrate Iran's ability to close access to the gulf. They also periodically conducted longer missions to the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea. In the summer of 2011, the Yunes submarine conducted a 67-day patrol in the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea, setting a national record for the longest mission.
However, the technical condition of the submarines steadily deteriorated. This was due to both the harsh environmental conditions—high temperatures and salinity of the seawater—and the lack of original spare parts. Due to the imposition of international sanctions by the UN Security Council in late 2006, the Iranian Navy experienced problems with the supply of spare parts, as well as with the necessary maintenance and repairs on these submarines. Repairs at domestic shipyards were only partially able to maintain proper technical condition.
In 2020-2021, all submarines entered the Bandar Abbas shipyard for major repairs and modernization, which would also enable the use of cruise missiles. By the summer of 2025, at least one of the submarines had been restored to combat readiness. This is evidenced by a report by the Iranian news agency IRNA that on the night of June 14, 2025, during the so-called "Twelve Day War," it launched missiles from the Persian Gulf at targets in Israel.
On March 3, 2026, the United States launched a missile strike on the naval base in Bandar Abbas and reported the destruction of one of the Varshavyanka-class submarines. However, Iran denies this. Most likely, the missiles hit a landing stage near the submarine, and the submarine suffered only minor damage.
Beginning in the late 1980s, Iran began developing small submarines, both independently and likely with the assistance of North Korean specialists. According to several foreign media reports, between 1988 and 1993, North Korea transferred nine small submarines with a submerged displacement of approximately 90 tons to Iran. Iran also acquired another interesting development by North Korean engineers: the Taedong B, a hybrid of a torpedo-armed high-speed boat and a midget submarine. Two Korean Taedong B submarines were delivered to Iran in 2002, and were subsequently produced independently under the name Zulficar. They are in service with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and their primary purpose is to land reconnaissance and sabotage teams.
“Taedong B” - “Zulficar”
In February 2004, the first reports emerged of Iran's development of a domestic minisubmarine, the Ghadir. Naturally, the performance characteristics are classified, so the data provided are approximate. Its surface/submerged displacement is 117/125 tons, speed is 10/8 knots, and the crew, according to various sources, ranges from 7 to 18. Its armament consists of two 533-mm torpedo tubes designed to fire various types of torpedoes, including the Hoot missile torpedo (similar to the Russian Shkval), cruise missiles, and mine-laying. The boats can also be used to land combat divers.
According to incomplete data, at least 21 submarines of this type entered service between 2005 and 2022.
Despite their small size, the Ghadir-class ships are capable of undertaking relatively long voyages. For example, Ghadir 953 called at the Pakistani port of Karachi in May 2014. According to Iranian media reports, four to five Ghadir-class ships were constantly patrolling the approaches to the Strait of Hormuz.
According to the IRGC Navy commander, missile strikes against coastal targets were carried out during the current Gulf War. It's possible that these were the "Ghadir" attacks.
Ghadir-class submarines
In the spring of 2006, information first surfaced about the construction of the Nahang mini-submarine in Iran. Details about this boat are extremely scarce; it is believed to be primarily designed to support underwater special forces and minelaying, although it is possible that it could also be armed with two 533mm torpedoes.
Model submarine "Nahang"
Between 2013 and 2019, the larger submarine "Fateh" entered service. Three more submarines of the same type are under construction. Media estimates of the submarine's displacement are 530/600 tons, speed 11/14 knots, snorkel range 3600 miles (at 8 knots), and diving depth 200-250 meters. Armament consists of four 533-mm torpedo tubes (six torpedoes or cruise missiles, or eight mines).
Submarine "Fateh"
In 2024, at the DIMDEX 2024 exhibition in Doha, a model of the Fateh-class submarine with a Stirling air-independent propulsion plant developed by Malek Ashtar University of Technology (MUT) was presented.
Model of the “Fateh” type submarine with a VNEU
According to US CENTCOM, on March 3, 2026, during Operation Epic Fury, the “Fateh” was sunk as a result of a missile strike.
Iran is currently constructing a large submarine, the Besat, with a submerged displacement of 2000-3000 tons and an air-independent propulsion system (AIP) powered by fuel cells. Its armament is expected to consist of six torpedo tubes, which will also allow it to fire cruise missiles at sea and shore targets.
Model submarine "Besat"
There are also reports that Iran was also planning to build a nuclear-powered submarine. Back in December 2016, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani ordered his designers to begin work on a nuclear submarine. However, given the current situation, this is unlikely to happen in the foreseeable future.
To support the activities of combat swimmers, Iran operates light diver transporters, such as the two-seat Al Sabehat 15. And in 2020, the IRGC unveiled another new development: a large underwater Drone with the diesel-electric power plant "Nazir-1". Later, its improved versions were also demonstrated. The length of this submarine drone is about 9,1 m, diameter - 1,8 m, diving depth - 200 m, cruising range - 270 miles, underwater autonomy - up to 24 hours.
Al Sabehat 15 light diver transporter
Underwater drone with diesel-electric power plant "Nazir-1"
Iran's interest in small submarines is driven not only by their relative simplicity and low cost, but also by the unique hydrography and hydrology of the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz. Their average depth is only about 35 meters, and the maximum (at the mouth of the Strait of Hormuz) is 102 meters. The gulf is rich in islands, sandbanks, and coral reefs. I remember being on a gas carrier loading at Ras Tanura—a ten-hour voyage through a narrow shipping channel dug into a sandbank.
The depths of the Persian Gulf
All this makes the use of large submarines here virtually impossible. However, the large temperature and salinity fluctuations, shallow depths, and sand and organic suspended matter in the seawater contribute to hydroacoustic stealth.
Using torpedoes, missiles and mines weaponIranian submarines are capable of effectively blocking access to the Persian Gulf through Hormuz. After all, its narrowest point is only 54 kilometers and is divided into two transport channels, each approximately 2,5 kilometers wide, separated by a 5-kilometer buffer zone.
Shipping routes in the Strait of Hormuz
The Iranian Navy operates torpedoes of Russian, North Korean, and domestic manufacture. The latter includes the 533mm YT-534-UW1 "Valfajr" wake-homing torpedo, which carries a 220-250 kg explosive charge. Serial production began in 2015. Its prototype is presumably the North Korean PT-97W torpedo.
YT-534-UW2 “Valfajr” torpedoes
Iranian sailors may also use the Khut-class high-speed underwater missile/supercavitating torpedo, which was developed since the early 2000s. It achieves speeds of 320-360 km/h by propelling the torpedo through a gas cavity. It is likely a derivative of the Soviet B-111 Shkval torpedo, which entered service with the Soviet Navy in 1977.
The Shkval is equipped with a rocket engine powered by a solid fuel that reacts with seawater. The torpedo's serious drawbacks include its high noise level, which can reveal the submarine's camouflage, its short effective range (7 km), and the lack of a homing system.
Torpedo "Khut"
Iran also operates the 533mm "Ajdar" torpedo. Its lithium-ion battery allows it to travel at cruising speed for up to 96 hours over a distance of over 320 miles, or at a speed of 22-25 knots for a distance of up to 70 miles.
Iran's submarines are also designed to lay mines of both foreign and domestic manufacture. Examples include: a torpedo-based self-transporting bottom mine with a range of approximately 20 km and a 320 kg explosive charge; the Maham-2 bottom mine with a similar charge; and others. All of these mines are equipped with multi-channel detonators (magnetic, acoustic, and hydrodynamic), and multiplicity and timing devices.
Iranian naval self-propelled mine
Maham-2 naval mine
According to media reports, Iran also has Chinese-made EM-52 rocket-propelled proximity mines, also known as the Te-1. Each mine is 3,7 meters long, 0,45 meters in diameter, weighs 629 kg, and contains 140 kg of explosive. It can be deployed at depths of up to 200 meters. It is equipped with magnetic, acoustic, and hydrodynamic sensors and can monitor a 3-kilometer radius. Upon detecting a target, the mine floats toward it at a speed of up to 80 m/s and can hit targets within a radius of up to 300 meters.
EM-52 mine
Loading an EM-52 mine into a torpedo tube
Launch of a Jask-2 cruise missile from a Ghadir-class submarine
The boats can use cruise missiles, such as anti-ship missiles such as the Jask-2 or Nasr-1 with a range of up to 35 km, Noor with a range of up to 120 km, Qader (300 km, can also be used against ground targets), as well as long-range cruise missiles for firing at ground targets.
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