Iran To Message To The World's Biggest Mine-Hunting Exercise In The Persian Gulf: 'We Are Watching You'

Iran’s indigenous destroyer Jamaran (file photo)

Iran Dispatches Warship To Shadow Gulf Exercises -- The Telegragh

Iran has dispatched one of its newest warships to shadow the world's biggest mine-hunting exercise that has been taking place over the last few days in the Gulf.

The frigate Jamaran cruised to within a mile of the western vessels, placing her "almost on top of" the fleet conducting exercises to secure shipping, naval sources said.

Commanders stressed they did not view the frigate as a threat and said day to day relations with the Iranian navy were cordial, but its presence underlined the sensitivity of the exercise in one of the world's most strategically important waterways.

The Jamaran, armed with missiles and torpedoes, was built in Iran and launched in 2010, though it is based on a far older design.

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My Comment: Coming within a mile is close .... very close.

Iran's Navy Makes It's First Visit To The Pacific In Three Decades

Iranian-built destroyer Jamaran (file photo)

Iran Flotilla In Pacific Ocean For First Time, Navy Commander -- Islamic Republic News Agency

Tehran, Feb 26, IRNA - Navy Commander Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari said Tuesday that Iranian flotilla of warships entered the Pacific Ocean after passing through the Malaga region, one of the most important waterways around the world.

On the sidelines of a national ceremony, Sayyari told IRNA that the Iranian flotilla is to be berthed at a Chinese port with the objective of strengthening friendly relations between Tehran and Beijing.

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More News On The Iranian Navy In The Pacific

Commander: Iranian Navy's Presence in Pacific Signifies Ineffectiveness of Sanctions -- Fars News Agency
Iranian warships to dock at Chinese ports: Navy cmdr. -- Press TV
Iranian Navy to sail in Pacific ocean for first time in three decades: Commander -- Payvand Iran News
Iranian Fleet of Warship to Enter Pacific Ocean Tomorrow -- Fars News Agency
Iranian Warships to Dock in China, India, Sri Lanka -- Global Research
Iranian warships pass through strait of Malacca -- Borneo Post
Iranian warships pass through Strait of Malacca -- Zawya

Iran Continues To Expand It`s Navy

Iranian naval ships in the Persian Gulf (file photo)

The Great Shiite Fleet -- Washington Free Beacon

Iran boosts navy as U.S. withdraws aircraft carrier from Gulf.

Iran is significantly expanding its naval capabilities as the U.S. Navy removes one of its two aircraft carriers from the Persian Gulf due to budgetary constraints.

As the U.S. Navy cuts its fleet to account for impending cuts to the defense budget, Iran has significantly boosted the regional deployment of advanced warships capable of carrying armed unmanned drones and other types of firepower.

The U.S. Navy announced recently that budgetary constraints forced it to cut in half the number of aircraft carriers in the Persian Gulf. The reduction comes despite an official Defense Department directive ordering no less than two carriers be present in the region due to concerns about Iran.

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My Comment: They are not only expanding their fleet .... they are also building the necessary naval bases.

Iran's Navy Will Be Deployed To The Mediterranean

Iran Navy Commander Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari (file photo)

Iran Navy To Deploy 24th Fleet To Mediterranean Sea -- Press TV (Iran)

Iran Navy Commander Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari says the Islamic Republic’s 24th fleet of warships will be deployed to the Mediterranean Sea.

“The Navy’s 24th fleet of warships will patrol the north of the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Aden, Bab-el-Mandeb, the Red Sea, Suez Canal and the Mediterranean Sea for three months and will even sail as far as southeastern Asian countries,” Sayyari said on Wednesday.

The Iranian commander added that the Navy’s 23rd fleet of warships would return to the country next week.

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Update #1: Iran to Dispatch More Fleets of Warships to High Seas -- Fars News Agency (Iran)
Update #2: Iran Navy to Deploy to Mediterranean -- RIA Novosti

My Comment: This deployment is being done to send a message to Israel. I will also not be surprised if these ships end up docking at a 'safe' Syrian port during their deployment.

Iran Starts Six-Day Hormuz Strait War Games

Navy Chief Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari orders the commencement of the exercises. Payvand

Iran Starts Six-Day Hormuz Strait Drill to Show ‘Readiness’ -- Bloomberg Businessweek

Iran’s naval forces started a six- day military exercise around the Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint for 20 percent of the world’s traded oil, the official Islamic Republic News Agency reported.

The drill, which covers a large area extending to the Sea of Oman and the north of the Indian Ocean, is aimed at “displaying the readiness of armed and naval forces to defend Iran’s waterway and national interests,” Iranian Navy Commander Habibollah Sayari said today according to IRNA. The exercise will involve testing defensive and missile systems, combat vessels and submarines, Sayari said on Dec. 25.

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More News On Iran's War Games

Iran: Navy Begins War Games Near Vital Waterway -- New York Times
Iran starts navy drills in Strait of Hormuz: IRNA -- Reuters
Iran starts war games in Strait of Hormuz -- Al Jazeera
Iran starts naval drill, prepares to confront Western threats -- RT
Iran Starts 6-Day Naval Drills -- RIA Novosti
Iran navy launches 6-day massive exercises: report -- Xinhuanet
Iran begins naval war games in Strait of Hormuz -- The National
Iran launches a massive naval drill -- Press TV (Iran)

Iran To Launch Massive War Games In The Persian Gulf

Iranian helicopters and war-boats during "Velayat-90" navy exercises in the Strait of Hormuz (file photo)

Iran to Start Six-Day War Game in Strait of Hormuz on Dec. 28 -- Bloomberg Businessweek

Iran’s naval forces will conduct a military exercise this week in the Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint for 20 percent of the world’s traded oil, Iranian Navy Commander Habibollah Sayari said.

The six-day exercise, which will starts on Dec. 28, will also be held in the Sea of Oman and in the north of the Indian Ocean, Sayari said today, according to the state-run Fars news agency. The drill will involve testing defensive and missile systems, combat vessels and submarines, and is aimed at “identifying and combating threats,” he was cited as saying without elaborating.

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More News On Iran Preparing For Six Days Of War Games In The Persian Gulf

Report: Iran plans naval maneuvers near strategic Strait of Hormuz -- Washington Post/AP
Iran to conduct navy drill in Strait of Hormuz in December -- Reuters
Iranian Commander Says Navy Plans Exercises In Hormuz Strait -- Radio Free Europe
Iran launches naval drills in Persian Gulf's gas fields -- Xinhuanet
Iran says it will test new subs, drones in upcoming war games -- Times of Israel
Iranian fleet is training to block the Hormuz strait -- Voice of Russia
Iran Navy plans weeklong massive war games in southern waters -- Press TV (Iran)
Navy to Stage Large-Scale Drills in Iran's Southern Waters on Friday -- FARS News Agency (Iran)
Iranian Navy to stage war games -- Tehran Times (Iran)

Iran Deploys Russian Sub In The Persian Gulf

Super-heavy Tareq 901 submarine (file photo)

Iran Launches Sub As US, Allies Hold Massive Naval Drills In Persian Gulf -- NBC

DUBAI -- Iran launched a submarine and a destroyer into the Persian Gulf from Bandar Abbas port on Tuesday at the same time as U.S. and allied forces held massive naval exercises in the same waters to practice keeping oil shipping lanes open.

Tehran has repeatedly threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz, a route for oil exports from the gulf, if Iranian nuclear sites are attacked by Israel, which believes Tehran is trying to develop an atomic bomb.

The United States, Britain, France and a number of Middle Eastern states are conducting a naval exercise in the gulf this week, focusing on how to clear mines that Tehran or guerilla groups might deploy to disrupt tanker traffic.

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More News On Iran Deploying A New Sub In The Persian Gulf

Iran launches Tareq 901 submarine, Sahand destroyer -- Press TV (Iran)
Growing gulf: Iran deploys Russian made sub as tensions rise -- RT (Russia)
Iran Returns Russian-Built Sub to Persian Gulf -- RIA Novosti (Russia)
Iran upgrades Russia-made heavy submarine, launches new destroyer -- Haaretz
Iran launches submarine as US navy drills in Gulf -- Jerusalem Post/Reuters
Iran Launched A Submarine Right Into The Middle Of The International Naval Exercises -- Business Insider
Iran deploys Russian-made submarine in Gulf -- AP

Is The US Navy Facing A 'Nightmare Scenario' Against Iran?

Iranian naval vessels during a military drill near the Strait of Hormuz. Press TV

Iran Is Readying A 'Nightmare Scenario' For The US Navy -- Business Insider

It's getting easy to overlook the tired rhetoric and hollow tension surrounding Iran, the U.S. and Israel.

It's been months, and months since the back-and-forth began. First, Iran's shutting the Strait of Hormuz, then it's saying it'd never shut the strait. Then Israel's planning a solo attack. No, they're not.

It's frustrating, and more than a little confusing, but that doesn't mean the situation couldn't turn ugly at the drop of a hat.

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More News On Iran 'Beefing Up' It's Navy

Iran Beefs Up Its Persian Gulf Firepower -- The Atlantic
Iran capable of attack in Persian Gulf -- UPI
US fears major Iranian threat in Persian Gulf -- YNet News
Iran bolsters its Persian Gulf firepower -- Global Post
Iran Continues to Increase Naval Capabilities -- Maritime Executive
Iranian navy’s sea legs wobbly -- Boston Herald
Iran bolsters retaliation capability in Persian Gulf, experts say -- Washington Post
US fears nightmarish conflict with Iran in Persian Gulf: Experts -- Press TV (Iran)
A U.S.-Iran Naval Clash Is Not Inevitable -- Micah Zenko, Council On Foreign Relations

Why Does Iran Want To Build A Nuclear Submarine

Iranian submarine during a naval parade of the Velayat-90 war game in the Sea of Oman; January 3, 2012 (Reuters/Jamejamonline/Ebrahim Norouzi)

Iran's Nuclear-Submarine Folly -- John Gay, The National Interest

Last month, Iran announced its intent to build nuclear-powered submarines. While some may worry that this is yet another Iranian bid for destabilizing power, there is no need to panic. Tehran will be wasting money it does not have on a tool it does not need. Iranian nuclear submarines are not a realistic threat to American security. They may even be a bluff—Tehran has announced plans for a stealth-fighter aircraft and other high-tech weapons that have never seen the light of day. However, the nuclear program shows that the leadership can commit to internationally and financially costly programs for decades if it believes it will gain security and domestic prestige.

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Update #1: Iran submarine plan may fuel Western nuclear worries -- Reuters
Update #2: Iran to build nuclear submarine -- RT

My Comment: The Iranians are looking at what type of military they want 20 years from now .... and if it is nuclear subs that they want .... it tells me that they want to see themselves being able to project military power far from their sphere of influence in the Middle East .... maybe even to the U.S. coastline.

Iran Wants A Larger Navy

Iran's first domestically-built destroyer, Jamaran. Press TV

Iran To Build More Ships, Boost Naval Presence -- Reuters

The Iranian navy has announced plans to build more warships and increase its presence in international waters at a time of growing tension in the Middle East over Tehran's nuclear program.

Navy commander Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari said the deployments would protect Iranian cargo ships around the world, in particular in the Gulf of Aden and the northern part of the Indian Ocean, according to state news agency IRNA.

The navy wanted to guard Iranian ships from Somali pirates, the report said.

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Update #1: Iran plans to unveil 10 new frigates, destroyers: Commander -- Press TV
Update #2: Iran to Unveil Several Home-Made Destroyers, Missile Frigates Soon -- Fars News Agency
Update #3: Iran to Build 10 New Warships -- RIA Novosti

My Comment: Iran is sending the message that they want to have a major presence in the Gulf and in the Indian Ocean .... this ship building program is a good first step for them to accomplish this.

Iran's Navy Has No Respect

Iran's first domestically-built destroyer, Jamaran, launched in the waters of the Persian Gulf in February, 2010. Press TV

Iranian Naval Diplomacy: Public Absurdity is the Usual, Expected Distraction -- Information Disemination

The national radio news (CNN or CBS, I forget) led - as in this was the first story - with this rather interesting news.

Iran plans to send ships near the Atlantic coast of the United States, state-run Islamic Republic News Agency reported Tuesday, quoting a commander.

"The Navy of the Iranian Army will have a powerful presence near the United States borders," read the headline of the story, in Farsi.

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Update: Information Dissemination also noticed something funny about this photo.

My Comment: I guess no one is going to take this story seriously.

Iran Sends Subs For Reconnaissance In The Red Sea

An Iranian made light submarine is displayed during the army day military parade, in Tehran, Iran, in this file photo. (Atta Kenare/AFP/Getty Images)

Iran Sends Submarines For Reconnaissance In Red Sea -- Jerusalem Post/Reuters

FARS reports Iranian military submarines reportedly entering Red Sea for first time to collect info, identify other countries' combat vessels; report comes after previous Iranian ships sent to combat piracy in Gulf.

TEHRAN - Iran has sent submarines to the Red Sea, the semi-official Fars news agency reported on Tuesday, citing an unidentified source, in a move that could anger Israel.

"Iranian military submarines entered the Red Sea waters with the goal of collecting information and identifying other countries' combat vessels," Fars said.

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More News On Iran Sending Subs To The Red Sea

Iranian Navy Sends Submarines to Red Sea -- ABC
Iran dispatched subs to Red Sea -- UPI
Iran submarines dispatched to Red Sea: report -- AFP
Iran sends submarines to Gulf of Aden, Red Sea -- Xinhuanet
Iran Submarines in Red Sea to Spot Naval Vessels, Fars Says -- Bloomberg
Iranian navy sends submarines to Red Sea -- Forbes/AP
Iran Says Its Submarines are in the Red Sea -- Aretz Shuva
Israel's new battlefield: Iranian submarines -- Ynet News
Iranian Navy Deploys Submarines in High Seas -- Fars News Agency (Iran)

Iranian Warships Dock In Syria -- Voice of America

Two Iranian naval ships have docked in Syria after passing through Egypt's Suez Canal into the Mediterranean Sea - an act Israel had called a "provocation."

Reuters news agency said the Iranian frigate and supply ship arrived in Syria Wednesday night.

Iran's naval commander said the ships were conducting a routine visit and aimed to carry what he described as "the message of peace and friendship" to other nations.

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More News On Iranian Warships In The Mediterranean Sea

Iran warships dock in Syria, Israeli fears dismissed -- Reuters
Iranian warships arrive in Syria, witness says -- AP
Report: Iran warships dock in Syria after crossing Suez -- Haaretz
Iranian warships arrive in Syria, witness says -- Jerusalem Post

My Comment: From a military point of view, this Iranian naval presence in the Mediterranean is insignificant. From a geopolitical point of view .... this is huge.

Iranian Warships Are Now In The Mediterranean

Provocative: An Iranian naval ship travels through the Suez Canal near Ismailia, the first of the country's vessels to enter the canal in over 30 years. Photo from The Daily Mail

Israel: Iranian Naval Vessels Major Provocation -- USA Today

JERUSALEM (AP) — As two Iranian warships sailed into the Mediterranean on Tuesday, an Israeli leader charged that Iran's goal was dominance in the Middle East.

The ships exited the Suez Canal Tuesday afternoon. It was the first time Iran has sent warships through the canal since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Israeli leaders have called the move a provocation.

"The passage of the Iranian ships is part of the comprehensive struggle that Iran is conducting against the West for hegemony and control in the Middle East," Vice Premier Silvan Shalom told an energy conference in Israel's southern resort of Eilat.

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More News On Iranian Warships in the Mediterranean

Iranian ships entering Suez Canal seen as 'provocation' -- BBC (Video)
Iranian warships sail through Suez Canal for the first time since 1979 amid accusations of 'provocation' from Israel -- Daily Mail
Iranian warships cross Suez canal -- The Guardian
Iranian Warships Complete Suez Canal Transit -- FOX News/AP
Iranian warships pass through Suez Canal -- Euro News
Iranian warships enter Med despite Israel warning -- MSN
Israel Silent as Iranian Ships Transit Suez Canal -- New York Times
Suez transit: Iran widens strategic horizons -- BBC

Iranian Warships Are Now Traveling Through The Suez Canal

Iran Naval Ships Enter Suez Canal, Says Official -- MSNBC

ISMAILIA, Egypt — Two Iranian ships entered the Suez Canal on Tuesday and were heading toward the Mediterranean, a canal official said.

"They entered the canal at 5:45 a.m.," the official told Reuters. No other details were immediately available.

Israel had said it takes a "grave view" of the passage of the ships -- the first Iranian naval vessels to go through the canal since Iran's 1979 Islamic revolution.

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More News On Iranian Warships Using The Suez Canal

Iran naval ships enter Suez Canal, says official -- Alert Net
Iranian Naval Ships 'Enter Suez Canal' -- SKY News
Two Iranian Warships to Pass Through Suez Canal Tuesday -- Voice of America
As The Mideast Boils, Iran Stirs The Pot With Ships To The Suez -- Time Magazine
Fear grows in Israel over backlash from Egypt -- L.A. Times
News Analysis: With new Egypt, Israel worries about Iran -- Xinhuanet

Conflicting Reports That Iranian Warships Will Pass Through The Suez Canal

An Iranian warship and speed boats take part in a naval war game in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, southern Iran (file photo - April 22, 2010). Photo: Reuters

Iran: Warships Will Make Suez Passage -- Voice of America

Iranian state media say Tehran is sending two warships through the Suez Canal.

Press TV on Thursday quoted an unnamed Iranian navy official as saying Egyptian authorities see "nothing wrong" with the vessels' passage.

Earlier, Suez Canal officials said no Iranian naval ships would pass through the waterway Thursday. The official said the waterway's management had not received any requests by Iranian naval ships to transit the canal.

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More News On Iranian Warships Using The Suez Canal

Conflicting reports as Egypt denies barring Iran ships -- AFP
Suez Canal Official Says No Iranian Warships Licensed to Pass -- Bloomberg
No Iran Warships Set to Enter Suez Canal, Egypt Says -- Bloomberg
Iran warships' plan to use Suez Canal 'cancelled' -- BBC
Egypt says Iran cancels Suez plans -- UPI
Iran: Our warships will pass through Suez Canal -- Haaretz
Iranian Warships to Reportedly Pass Through Suez Canal -- FOX News
Israel anger at Iran Suez Canal warship move -- BBC
Israel Official Says Iran Ship Is 'Provocation' -- Wall Street Journal
High alert declared as Iranian warships approach Suez Canal -- Haaretz

My Comment: It appears that Iran has not laid the proper groundwork with Egypt on using the Suez Canal for their warships .... hence the confusion.

Iran Introduces Its Flying Navy

Iran Unveils Squadrons Of Flying Boats -- CNN

Iran unveiled three squadrons of new flying boats on Tuesday, Iranian news agencies reported.

The craft, dubbed the Bavar 2, is armed with a machine gun and carries surveillance cameras, according to a report from the Iranian Student News Agency.

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More News On Iran's Flying Boats

Iran arms elite Guards with 'flying boats' -- AFP
Iran's Guard gets first squadrons of flying boats -- AP
Domestically manufactured flying boats delivered to IRGC Navy -- Tehran Times
Stealth flying boats join IRGC fleet -- Press TV (Iran)

My Comment: 50 years ago this would have been impressive .... but not in today's world.

Iran's Navy Mass Producing Assault Boats

A missile-carrying assault boat. Archive

Iran Starts Production Of New Missile Assault Boats -- RIA Novosti

Iran has launched production of the Zolfaqar and Seraj 1 class missile boats, Defense Minister Brigadier General Ahmad Vahidi said on Monday.

"The Seraj 1 boat is a high-speed rocket-launcher designed for tropical areas," the ISNA news agency quoted Vahidi as saying. "It is fitted with advanced indigenous communication capabilities."

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More News On Iran's Navy

Iran Begins Producing Missile-Carrying Speedboats After Announcing Drone -- Bloomberg
Iran launches assault boats, warns 'don't play with fire' -- AFP
Iran says it will mass produce assault boats -- AP
Iran possesses fastest missile-launching assault boats: IRGC commander -- Xinhuanet
Iran Adds Missile-Launching Assault Boats to Arsenal -- Arutz Sheva
Iran produces missile launching vessel -- Press TV (Iran)
Iran inaugurates mass production of 2 types of assault boats -- Tehran Times
Iran Equips High-Speed Zolfaqar Vessel with Cruise Missiles -- FARS News Agency (Iran)

My Comment: These boats are being constructed against one specific target .... the sinking of super oil tankers.

The Newest Threat From Iran In The Straits Of Hormuz

The Bladerunner 51, weighing 16 tonnes and 15.5 metres (45 feet) long is manufactured at the ICE Marine shipyard in Britain and can reach a maximum speed of 65 knots

Iran Navy Produces Armed Copy Of Bladerunner 51 Speedboat -- The Telegraph

Iran says it will mass produce armed replicas of the Bladerunner 51, the British-built speedboat hailed among the fastest in the world, for its navy in the Gulf.

A senior commander said Iran would arm the copy vessel with missiles and torpedoes as it continues to build its military presence in the Strait of Hormuz.

General Ali Fadavi of the Revolutionary Guards's navy, told AFP: "The Bladerunner is a British ship that holds the world speed record. We got a copy [on which] we made some changes so it can launch missiles and torpedoes.

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My Comment: I suspect that these boats will be mainly used as suicide attack vessels against bigger targets. i.e. cruisers, aircraft carriers, oil tankers, etc.. The reason why .... it is too small to be effective as a platform carrying torpedoes or missiles. But they should not be discounted .... like the PT Boats during the Second World War in the Pacific .... I will not be surprise if these speed boats become very effective weapons in the confines of the Persian Gulf.

Iran's Navy Starts 8 Days of War Games

Iran To Start Eight-Day War Games In Sea Of Oman -- Tehran Times

TEHRAN - The Iranian Navy will start eight-day war games in the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman today, which will cover a span of about 250,000 square kilometers of the country’s territorial waters.

“The massive maneuvers, entitled Velayat-89, will display (Iran’s) defensive and deterrent naval power,” and will convey the message of “peace and friendship” to regional countries, Navy Commander Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari said on Tuesday.

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More News On Iranian Naval War Games

Iran begins new military maneuvers in Persian Gulf -- AP
Iran says plans new war games, photographed U.S. ship -- Reuters
Iran to Stage Naval Wargames in Strait of Hormouz -- Fars News Agency (Iran)
Iranian Navy begins major drill -- Press TV (Iran)
Iranian navy announces fresh Gulf exercises -- Financial Times
Iran begins new military maneuvers in Persian Gulf -- Ynet News
Iranian Navy exercises in Gulf of Oman -- Voice of Russia
Iran starts navy drill in southern waters -- Xinhuanet