15 hours ago
Here's everything you need to know about Iran's naval power
As attention turns to how Iran might respond to the recent U.S. strikes, a key question is the extent to which it can target American interests in Gulf waters. Despite the ongoing confrontation, Iran's navy has so far played no visible role in the conflict with Israel. This raises the question: is the regime in Tehran leveraging its naval fleet, and what capabilities does it actually possess?
While Iran is often seen as a primarily continental power, the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman represent both its first and last lines of defense. Since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, Tehran has worked to build a layered naval structure divided between the regular army and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), combining larger warships and smaller attack boats, conventional submarines, and drones.
Though Iran's navy is not capable of competing with the world's major naval powers, it has developed a specialized force based on asymmetric warfare, indigenous technology, and strategic deployment ensuring it remains a constant threat to any hostile move in the Strait of Hormuz or the Gulf of Oman.
The Iranian Navy (IRIN) is the official branch responsible for operating the country's regular naval fleet, including submarines and larger warships. It comprises over 18,500 personnel and more than 100 vessels, including ships and submarines. Its operations span both the Persian Gulf and the Caspian Sea, focusing on protecting Iran's territorial waters, securing vital shipping lanes, and deterring any violations of Iranian sovereignty.
According to Global Firepower's 2024 report, Iran's navy ranks 37th out of 145 naval forces worldwide. While this position does not place it among the global superpowers, it reflects the growth of Iran's naval capabilities despite international sanctions and technological constraints. The ranking suggests that Iran maintains a capable medium-sized naval force, strong enough to assert its presence within its regional sphere of influence.
The most prominent feature of the fleet is its considerable diversity, which includes:
Perhaps the most notable component of Iran's fleet is its submarine force, which includes between 19 and 27 submarines. Among them are three Tareq-class (Kilo-class) diesel-electric submarines, which have been used in strategic operations such as mine-laying and cruise missile launches.
Iran also has two Fateh-class submarines and a large number of Ghadir-class mini-submarines, which are manoeuvrable in shallow waters.
Although Tehran does not currently possess any nuclear-powered submarines, it has been pursuing this goal for years. In 2018, Iranian officials announced plans to build nuclear-powered submarines, but technology and international sanctions remain a barrier to realising this ambition.
Iran's diving fleet does possess a collection of units with relatively advanced capability:
Iran is seeking to improve the capabilities of these submarines by installing air-independent propulsion (AIP) systems, which will increase their ability to stay underwater for longer periods of time and give them greater operational capability.
Iran's naval bases are spread across two geographical regions: North (Caspian Sea) and South (Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman). Each base plays a different role, from manufacturing to logistical support for combat operations.
In addition to these bases, there are IRGC-specific bases, such as the Sirik base near the Strait of Hormuz, and the Abu Musa base on Abu Musa - one of the islands disputed with the UAE - along with Tamb al-Sughra and Tamb al-Kubra. Abu Musa houses missile defence systems and underground fortifications.
Unlike the regular fleet, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy (IRGCN) relies on a different type of operation, known as asymmetric warfare , which includes the use of fast missile boats, mine-laying, and hit-and-run attacks.
This force includes:
These forces do not have large ships or submarines, but they are characterised by speed and manoeuvrability, making them a constant threat to any hostile naval presence.
Modern equipment and advances in capabilities
In August 2024, the Iranian Navy received 2,640 missile and drone systems, including cruise missiles that are untraceable by radars. It also conducted successful cruise missile launch tests from a small submarine, an indication of an evolving offensive capability.
In 2023, an Iranian naval group completed a journey that lasted more than eight months, during which it travelled 63,000 kilometres, and reached the Strait of Magellan in a first of its kind. The fleet included the Dana destroyer and the Makran support ship, in a clear message that Iran wants to expand its reach into international waters.
