Key Points and Summary – Iran’s Navy is a relatively small but potent “green water” force designed for asymmetric warfare to defend its strategic coastline, particularly the Strait of Hormuz.
-Its strength lies not in large capital ships but in a diverse fleet that includes three Russian-built ‘stealth’ Kilo-class submarines, several smaller frigates and destroyers, and numerous fast attack craft operated by the IRGC.
-The recent addition of the Shahid Bahman Bagheri, a large helicopter and drone carrier, signals an ambition to project power further afield.
-While not a global superpower, Iran’s navy poses a significant threat through its potential to disrupt shipping with mines, submarines, and “swarming” speedboat tactics.
What Is the Status of the Iranian Navy?
Iran is not known for its navy, but the Middle East bully has beefed up its maritime fleet with more submarines and surface vessels and even has a new helicopter and drone carrier that can also launch deadly aircraft.
The Iranians occupy a strategic location, having clear access to the vital Strait of Hormuz that they could block with ships and naval mines.
The Iranians continue to expand their navy, hoping to have the necessary resources to assume greater responsibility in protecting the homeland and engaging the enemy.
So far, Iran’s navy has not been that much of a game changer against Israel.
It is more of a contingency force, but it is designed to deter adversaries from attacking Iran through the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman.
The Idea Is to Use Asymmetric Capabilities Against Stronger Foes
The Iranians believe in maritime asymmetric warfare. They can accomplish more with less, and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has utilized small and swift patrol boats to harass larger enemy warships in the past.
Additionally, Iran possesses various forms of undersea warfare assets, including submarines and sea mines. There are larger ships that can deploy drones and cruise missiles for attacking adversarial shipping, too.
Working as a Regional Naval Power
The Iranians have over 100 vessels of various sizes and capabilities. There are around 18,500 sailors. The maritime force is more for self-defense, though.
It is a green water navy that is not designed to sail outside the region, but it can protect the country’s sovereignty and go on the offensive if needed.
“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,” Euro News wrote in a profile.
A Handful of Destroyers and Frigates Are the Workhorses
The Iranians depend greatly on three destroyers – the Zulfiqar, Sahand, and Zagros. These ships can fire guided ballistic missiles and collect intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance data.
There are two classes of larger-sized frigates – the Alphand and Moj-class. These ships play a significant role in Iran’s defensive efforts, despite their limited range due to the country’s lack of support ships to replenish fuel, food, water, and ammunition.
The Iranians also possess some smaller, fast patrol ships for immediate attacks, although these are sometimes more of a nuisance than a bona fide threat to enemy vessels.
These are considered “kamikaze” craft that could constantly ram an enemy warship to cause lasting damage to its hull.
Submarines Are the Stars of the Show
The Iranian navy may have as many as 27 submarines, but only 19 are active.
The Tareq-class diesel electrics are the most advanced, and these can lay sea mines and also collect intelligence. They can scout the country’s borders and provide early warning signals on attacks from Iranian waters.
Iran also has the Kilo-Class submarine from Russia. Although older, the sub is considered the ‘black hole‘ due to its stealth properties.
These are only tactical assets and cannot patrol outside the region, but they can launch anti-ship cruise missiles.
The Fatih-class and Ghadir-class mini-submarines are used for coastal defense in “brown waters.” They can also deliver special operations forces to the coast to prevent an enemy amphibious operation.
While the Iranian navy is primarily a regional force. It has rehearsed at least one mission that sailed to the Strait of Magellan in 2023. This lasted eight months at sea, demonstrating that the navy has the ambition to be more than just a regional self-defense force.
New Drone and Helicopter Carrier Has the Propaganda Mill Buzzing
Iran’s new drone and helicopter carrier is probably the most interesting naval asset in the Iranian fleet. The Shahid Bahman Bagheri carrier had a christening ceremony in February. Iran has high hopes for the vessel and aims to have it carry out more offensive operations in its near abroad.
The IRGC will have overall command of the carrier. The Iranians claim it has a range of 22,000 nautical miles, requiring no refueling. This assertion is coming from Iranian state-run media, so take that with a grain of salt, but it does show that Tehran wants to graduate to the level of naval warfare that could take the fight to the enemy and not just protect its borders.
“According to limited open-source information, the carrier is capable of deploying various types of small unmanned aerial vehicles and air defense missiles. It is reportedly equipped with short- and medium-range air defense systems, intelligence-gathering equipment, and a flight control tower. In addition to featuring ESM and SIGINT capabilities,” Naval News said.
Although the Iranian navy is not particularly powerful, it is undergoing improvement. This is not yet a strategic force, but its submarines could do some damage by launching cruise missiles. Its destroyers and frigates can deter neighbors. And its new drone and helicopter carrier is a noteworthy addition to the fleet.
Despite one multi-ship mission outside its neighborhood, the Iranian navy remains primarily a self-defense force. However, this is slowly evolving into one that could deliver an offensive mission to Tehran.
Look for more patrols of the small, fast attack boats working with submarines laying sea mines that could provide an anti-access/ area denial strategy in the waters surrounding Iran.
This navy is improving, and with recent attacks from Israel and the United States, it could be looking for revenge.
About the Author: Dr. Brent M. Eastwood
Brent M. Eastwood, PhD is the author of Don’t Turn Your Back On the World: a Conservative Foreign Policy and Humans, Machines, and Data: Future Trends in Warfare plus two other books. Brent was the founder and CEO of a tech firm that predicted world events using artificial intelligence. He served as a legislative fellow for U.S. Senator Tim Scott and advised the senator on defense and foreign policy issues. He has taught at American University, George Washington University, and George Mason University. Brent is a former U.S. Army Infantry officer. He can be followed on X @BMEastwood.
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