Fateh submarine will join Iran Navy fleet soon: Commander
Sun Dec 4, 2016 4:54PM
http://presstv.com/Detail/2016/12/04/496449/Iran-Navy-Fateh-submarine-Siavash-Jarreh

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 marine 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 commander said the naval forces has
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.