According to the Tasnim News Agency, Navy Commander Rear Admiral Shahram Irani stated that the vessels, known locally as the “Dolphins of the Persian Gulf,” have been placed on the seabed of this crucial waterway.
He noted that the Ghadir-class midget submarines are engineered for “bottom-resting,” a stealth strategy that enables them to remain submerged and stationary for long durations to observe and, if necessary, engage hostile warships.
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This deployment occurs against a backdrop of rising regional tensions and what Tehran calls an “illegal naval blockade” by Western powers. The submarines are specifically designed for operations in the shallow and crowded waters of the Strait, complicating detection by traditional anti-submarine systems.
Irani mentioned that the fleet recently conducted formation maneuvers before resuming their surveillance missions. The Strait of Hormuz is recognized as the world’s most vital oil transit passage, with approximately 20% of global oil flows navigating through it, highlighting Iran’s emphasis on asymmetric sea-denial strategies to discourage foreign intervention.
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