StrategyPage – Another look at Iran’s current submarine problems.

(Thanks to Alain)

Defense News – The Iranian and Russian militaries have kicked off a joint naval drill in the Indian Ocean aimed at boosting security of maritime trade in the region.

National Interest – Tehran might lack the ability to keep their Cold War-era Soviet submarines in running order.

(Thanks to Alain)

USNI News – While the Iranian naval forces have been clashing with U.S. forces in the Middles East in the last several weeks, its most capable submarines have been out of action.

War Zone – Iran sent ballistic missiles 1,000 miles out into the Indian Ocean, but it doesn’t mean they have a long-range anti-ship ballistic missile capability.

War Zone – Iran’s Navy has formally commissioned the Markran, a former oil tanker it says has been transformed into a “forward base ship.” This vessel could provide a platform for more persistent maritime operations in and outside of the country’s own littoral areas. 

USNI News – The Middle East remains a volatile area for merchant shipping into the new year, according to the analysis of attacks on ships in the region.

Naval News – New intelligence suggests that Iran has a locally built warship which has not been publicly revealed.

War Zone – The ship was damaged above the waterline, which might indicate the use of a limpet mine, which Iran and its proxies have used in past tanker attacks.

Navy Recognition –  Iran plans to deliver a new surveillance warship “Shiraz” to the Iranian Navy. This new vessel has special features and would join Iran’s Navy fleet next Iranian calendar year.

(Thanks to Alain)

War Zone – Packing drones, boats, missiles, and a helicopter, it is Iran’s somewhat questionable take on American expeditionary sea bases.

USNI News – Emblazoned with the pennant number “1” in on its superstructure, Shahid Roudaki joined the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy (IRGCN) as its latest and most visible warship during a ceremony held in Bandar Abbas on the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday.

USNI News – Officially Saviz is a merchant ship, but it is most likely a covert Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) forward base. Several open-source reports over the last several years and officials with Saudi Arabia have accused the ship of being operated by the IRGC.

– USNI News – An Iranian special forces team boarded and seized a Liberian tanker off the coast of the United Arab Emirates for about five hours on Wednesday. The action by Iranian forces drew swift condemnation from the U.S.-led collation created to deter harassment of merchant ships in and out of the Persian Gulf.

– Forbes – The saga of Iran’s fake aircraft carrier, intended as a propaganda coup, is turning into an own goal…

(Thanks to Alain)

– BBC – Iran has launched missiles at a mock-up of a US aircraft carrier in the strategic Strait of Hormuz.

– National Interest – One of their three Soviet-built Kilo-class submarines just might be out of commission.

(Thanks to Alain)

– Navy Times – As tensions remain high between Iran and the U.S., the Islamic Republic appears to have constructed a new mock-up of an aircraft carrier off its southern coast for potential live-fire drills.

– Navy Times – The U.S. Navy warned Tuesday it will take “lawful defensive measures” against vessels in the Mideast that come within 100 meters (yards) of its warships, offering specific guidelines after a recent close encounter with Iranian vessels in the Persian Gulf.

– USNI News – The Navy’s existing policy for dealing with the small Iranian vessels prevalent in the Persian Gulf matches the sentiment of a Wednesday morning Tweet from President Donald Trump.

– The Hill – James Holmes writes that America’s coronavirus agony is Iran’s opportunity. Or at least the mullahs who rule the Islamic Republic may see it that way — rightly or wrongly.

– Defense News – Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard announced Monday that it has significantly upgraded the range of its anti-warship missiles.

– BBC – The US Navy has accused Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) of “dangerous and provocative actions” in international waters in the Gulf.

– National Interest – How Iran could channel an old British strategy against Napoleon to fight U.S. forces in the Middle East.

– BBC – A British-flagged oil tanker has been seized in the Gulf by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, Iran media say.