Fateh submarine will join Iran Navy fleet soon: Commander

A top Iranian Navy commander says the Islamic Republic will soon launch a new domestically-manufactured submarine.

“The Fateh (Conqueror) submarine with a 100-percent domestically-sourced technology will join Iran’s Navy and become operational soon,” Rear Admiral Siavash Jarreh, a senior advisor to the Iranian Navy Commander Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari, told IRNA on Sunday.

He added that few countries in the world are capable of manufacturing submarines and thanks to the great efforts of Iranian experts and reliance on domestic know-how, the Islamic Republic currently enjoys such a capability along with China, the US, Russia, France and Britain.

Iran’s Navy deployed its first submarine some two decades ago and has succeeded in acquiring advanced technology in this sector despite all the sanctions imposed against the country, he said.

Iran has so far launched different classes of domestically-built advanced submarines including Ghadir, Qaem, Nahang, Tareq and Sina.

The 600-ton Fateh is among semi-heavy submarines and is equipped with state-of-the-art weaponry such as torpedoes and naval mines.

It can operate more than 200 meters below the sea surface for near five weeks.

Jarreh further said Iranian naval forces are very strong and highly prepared to counter any move against the country.

“Iran’s Navy monitors the moves of all foreign fleets moment by moment upon their entrance into the northern regions of the Indian Ocean,” the commander said.

The Iranian naval forces are “fully prepared to counter any foreign fleet with a covetous eye” on the country, he added, emphasizing that Iran would never initiate any confrontation.

Jarreh also said the Iranian Navy has succeeded in protecting many ships from pirate attacks in the Gulf of Aden.

Back in November, the Iranian Navy chief said the naval forces had managed to escort 3,844 Iranian merchant ships and oil tankers in the Gulf of Aden and emphasized that the naval forces would continue with their presence in the strategic area with the purpose of establishing lasting security.

In recent years, Iran’s Navy has increased its presence in international waters to protect naval routes and provide security for merchant vessels and tankers.

In line with international efforts against piracy, the Iranian Navy has been conducting patrols in the Gulf of Aden since November 2008, safeguarding merchant containers and oil tankers owned or leased by Iran or other countries.

Iran’s Navy has managed to foil several attacks on both Iranian and foreign tankers during its missions in international waters.

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