The Islamic Republic of Iran currently owns at least 16 Ghadir-class small submarines, according to the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS). Each ship has a crew of less than 10 people and can carry 2 torpedoes or 2 C-704 anti-ship cruise missiles designed by China.
An anonymous source said that these submarines make more noise than most modern submarines. In addition, the submarine's crew also has limited experience and the ships often have maintenance problems.
Iran has in fact almost blockaded the Strait of Hormuz since the US and Israel began attacks on February 28. This strategic waterway route used to be the place where about 20% of the world's oil and natural gas (LNG) passed during normal times.
Tehran's decision to deploy mini-submarines, reported by the semi-official Tasnim news agency, was made in the context that US President Donald Trump is considering restoring the plan to use the US military to escort ships through the area.
Tehran's control of the Strait of Hormuz is largely due to the use or threat of using cheap missiles and drones. The above-mentioned mini-submarines are also likely to play a similar role.
A challenge in effectively deploying mini-submarines is geographical factors: The deepest point of the Strait of Hormuz is only about 100m. The Persian Gulf is not significantly deeper. This makes it harder for submarines to hide, even when standing still, because the active sonar system can detect unusual objects underwater.
According to Tasnim, a news agency linked to the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), the Ghadir submarine is "specially designed" for this waterway and the shallow water environment here.
To date, no Iranian submarines have appeared in combat operations in the current fighting context. The only large submarine still in operation in this country - the Kilo-class submarine from the Soviet era - was sunk right at the anchorage wharf.
The Ghadir submarines are much smaller, with a displacement of only 115 tons - a standard measure for submarines. Meanwhile, the Kilo-class submarine has a displacement of more than 2,000 tons. The US Los Angeles-class nuclear-powered attack submarines have a displacement of over 6,000 tons.
Mini-submarines are often used for coastal defense missions because they are not capable of operating on long journeys and cannot dive as deeply as larger ships. Iranian ships are developed domestically, with the first official announcement of production announced in 2005.
Sources said that the Ghadir submarines are actually copies of North Korean designs.
The US and Israel declared that almost all of Iran's Navy forces had been destroyed, but in the past week there has been information about small ships attacking US ships twice when these ships moved through the Strait of Hormuz.
The US Central Command (CENTCOM) said it has repelled many attacks targeting its forces. However, oil transportation by commercial oil tankers is still largely disrupted.
