Iran claims production of 80-knot attack speedboat

IRGC Iranian Navy Rear Admiral Ali Fadavi on Tuesday described recent US-led joint naval activities in the region as an “unnatural military device”, warning of a harsh reaction to perceived provocation – and he suggested that Iran could finally switch to production. for its long-promised high-speed surface craft.

“We have informed the Americans that their Persian Gulf is an absolute evil,” he said, adding that US ships and drones may not have the right of innocent passage in Iranian waters. “The Americans are aware that Iran would destroy their warships if they took the wrong step in the region.”

His rhetoric echoed a statement earlier this month by IRGC deputy chief Gen. Hossein Salami, who said Iran would close the Strait of Hormuz to US and Allied ships, including Allied trade traffic, if he felt threatened.

Last month, US forces were joined by more than 30 countries in the world’s largest naval maneuvers, the international mine countermeasures exercise, which took place in the Persian Gulf, Gulf of Oman and the Red Sea ; U.S. defense officials said this year’s exercise focused on threats from non-state actors like al Qaeda and ISIS. The Iranian response was not welcoming: Iranian leader Ayatollah Khamenei suggested that the US Navy should hold its exercises in the Bay of Pigs, Cuba, in reference to the attempted US-backed invasion. United in 1961.

In addition to his threats of swift retaliation, Rear Admiral Fadavi said on Monday that Iran would soon produce torpedo / missile boats capable of reaching speeds of up to 80 knots, mirroring comments made in March. “Over 35 knots is a dream for the world’s navies and American ships can sail at a maximum speed of 31 knots,” he said.

Iran acquired a British-made 51-foot fast Bladerunner in 2010, an advanced speedboat capable of 55-72 knots, and has sporadically claimed it will start production of a domestic version.

Last year, the IRGC equipped its speedboats with the new Iranian-made Ghader anti-ship cruise missiles. Analyst Anthony Cordesman and others suggest that Iran’s naval strategy for the Strait of Hormuz relies on “a large number of shoddy missiles” mounted on small, expendable craft, deployed sequentially to deplete anti-batteries. -missiles.