As the Middle East war intensifies, the battle is not limited to airstrikes and surface attacks. Even beneath the waters of the Strait of Hormuz, a hidden threat continues to loom and it is far harder to detect and neutralise.The United States has deployed A-10 attack aircraft and Apache helicopters over the Strait of Hormuz, targeting Iranian speedboats and underground weapons facilities. These operations are aimed at weakening Iran’s ability to disrupt maritime traffic and ensuring the safe passage of oil tankers. However, analysts warn that the most serious threat may not come from weapons that can be easily intercepted, but from submarines that remain largely undetected underwater.The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most important oil transit routes, located between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. The waterway carries nearly 20% of global energy supplies.
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Any disruption in this narrow waterway can have immediate global consequences, including rising oil prices and supply shortages. Iran’s geographic position along the Strait has allowed it to develop strategies and capabilities aimed at controlling or disrupting maritime movement in the region.
Iran’s mini submarines: Ghadir-class midget
At the centre of this conflict is Iran’s fleet of Ghadir-class midget submarines. These submarines are much smaller than conventional ones, measuring about 29 metres in length and weighing around 120 tons.Their compact size allows them to operate in shallow waters, as little as 30 metres deep, which matches the average depth of key shipping channels in the Strait of Hormuz, according to The Telegraph.Iran has up to 10 Ghadir-class midget submarines. Their miniature size allows them to evade detection and operate in waters as shallow as 30 metres, the average depth of key shipping channels through the Strait of Hormuz. In contrast to midget submarines, the United States’ Ohio-class nuclear submarines weigh around 18,750 tons and measure 170 metres in length. These submarines are extremely difficult to detect due to the naturally noisy environment caused by heavy ship traffic and offshore activity.
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These mini submarines are capable of launching torpedoes and more importantly, laying naval mines. Experts believe their mine-laying capability poses the greatest risk, as even a small number of mines can disrupt shipping routes for extended periods. Clearing such mines is a slow and complex process, which can effectively block the movement of vessels through the strait. Iran has spent decades studying the Gulf’s geography and training its naval personnel in these waters, enhancing the effectiveness of these operations.
Other submarines in Iran’s arsenal
In addition to the Ghadir-class, Iran operates several other types of submarines. The Fateh-class submarines weighing around 600 tonnes are larger and equipped with improved sensors, allowing them to operate in deeper waters while still maintaining a relatively small profile.
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Iran also possesses Russian-built Kilo-class submarines (Taregh, Yunes and Nooh), which are more powerful but less suited to the shallow waters of the Gulf. Other submarines including the Nahang midget were also purchased from Russia in the 1990s. Alongside these, Iran has developed specialised underwater systems such as the e-Ghavasi and Al-Sabehat swimmer delivery vehicles. These are designed for covert operations, allowing naval commandos to carry out missions such as mine-laying in shallow coastal waters.
Iran’s speedboat and drones
Iran’s naval strategy also relies heavily on fast-attack vessels operated by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). These boats are designed for swarm tactics, enabling them to overwhelm larger ships in confined waters. The fleet includes more advanced platforms such as the Zulfaghar-class boats, which are equipped with air defence systems and represent some of Iran’s most capable fast-attack vessels.
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Iran has also developed unconventional platforms such as the Bavar-2, a “flying boat” that can rise slightly above the water surface, increasing speed while reducing its radar.A major long-term threat comes from Iran’s anti-ship missile systems, which are deployed along its coastline. These include short-range missiles capable of targeting nearby vessels, as well as longer-range cruise and ballistic missiles that can strike ships across the Strait of Hormuz and beyond. Many of these systems are mobile, mounted on trucks or hidden in tunnels and bunkers, making them difficult to locate and target through conventional airstrikes.A major long-term threat comes from Iran’s extensive range of anti-ship missile systems deployed along its coastline. Short-range missiles such as the Kowsar and Nasr-1 are capable of targeting vessels operating close to shore.For longer distances, Iran has developed cruise missiles which can strike targets across the Strait of Hormuz and into the Gulf of Oman. The Abu Mahdi cruise missile significantly extends this range, reportedly capable of hitting targets up to 1000 kilometres away.In addition, Iran has developed anti-ship ballistic missiles such as the Gulf and Hormuz-2, designed to strike moving vessels using satellite guidance.
Naval mines: The biggest risk to global trade
Military experts believe that Iran’s most effective tool may be its extensive stockpile of naval mines. These include contact mines that explode on impact, magnetic mines that detect a ship’s hull, acoustic mines triggered by propeller noise and pressure mines that respond to water movement. Some advanced variants are designed to target large commercial vessels specifically. Even limited deployment of such mines could halt maritime traffic and take weeks to clear, severely impacting global trade.While US forces continue to target visible threats, the underwater dimension of the conflict remains a significant challenge. Submarines and mines are far harder to detect and neutralise, giving Iran the ability to disrupt global shipping routes without engaging in direct large-scale naval battles.
