This is simply more bluster coming out of Tehran. Iran`s navy is its smallest military arm, with total personnel of less than 15,000. It has a handful of aging destroyers and frigates (many sold by America to the shah in the 1960s and 70s). These ships are in poor condition, lack adequate spare parts, and are crewed by poorly trained officers and men. The Islamic Republic possesses three ex-Soviet Kilo-class nuclear submarines (a fine boat), but again the crews are so poorly trained that these subs rarely leave port. Their several dozen fast-attack boats are more of a nuissance than a threat.
While the Iranian Navy could, through a lucky missile strike, hit one or more American or allied ships in the Gulf, it would be annihilated in short order in the event of hostilities. |
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