Iran has deployed Ghadir-class mini submarines in the Strait of Hormuz as tensions with the US and Israel continue to disrupt regional shipping, Bloomberg reported Monday.
Iran operates at least 16 Ghadir-class midget submarines, each carrying fewer than 10 crew members and equipped with two torpedoes or two C-704 anti-ship cruise missiles.
The submarines generate more noise than most modern vessels, and face maintenance problems while crews have limited operational experience, the report added, citing a person familiar with the matter.
Iran deployed mini submarines in the Strait of Hormuz as US President Donald Trump considered restarting military escorts for commercial ships, according to Tasnim news agency.
Iran has tightened its control over the Strait of Hormuz mainly through missiles and low-cost drones, while the mini-submarines could support the same strategy.
The shallow waters of the Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf make submarine operations difficult because active sonar can more easily detect underwater objects.
Tasnim news agency said Iran specifically designed the Ghadir submarines for shallow Gulf waters, where larger submarines face operational constraints.
Iran began producing domestically developed mini-submarines in 2005 for coastal defense missions because the vessels operate better in short-range, shallow-water conditions.
Iran has not deployed submarines in direct combat during the conflict, while attacks sank its only operational Soviet-era Kilo-class submarine at its docking position, the report said.
The 115-ton Ghadir submarines remain significantly smaller than Kilo-class vessels, which displace more than 2,000 tons, and US Los Angeles-class attack submarines that exceed 6,000 tons.
US Central Command said it repelled multiple attacks after small Iranian boats targeted US ships in the Strait of Hormuz twice over the past week, while tanker traffic remained heavily restricted.
has reached out to the Iran's Ministry of Foreign Affairs for any comments.
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