Iran Tightening Gulf Security Belt - Defense Minister

By Staff, Agencies

Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier-General Amir Hatami said on Thursday that with the production and delivery of the combat speedboats to the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps [IRGC] naval forces, the security belt of the Gulf region, the Strait of Hormuz in particular, will be more tightened.

Hatami made the remarks during a ceremony where new speedboats of Ashura, Zulfiqar, and Heidar classes were delivered to the IRGC navy forces.

During the ceremony, the minister also referred to the delivery of Damavand destroyer, Separ [shield] missile-launching warship, and different types of light and semi-heavy submarines to the armed forces and delivery of different types of vessels to the Iranian Police for patrolling, search and rescue and relief missions. 

Hatami said that the new speedboats have been designed and produced by experts of the Ministry of Defense and enjoy a high capability in sea combat.

He further noted that smartness, radar evasion, and high speed are among the capabilities of the new vessels, 80 percent of their equipment has been designed domestically.