Iranian submarines are the Islamic Republic of Iran Navy's mixed diesel-electric submarine force, combining Russian-built Tareq/Kilo boats with domestically built Fateh, Ghadir, and smaller midget-submarine classes. Centered on Bandar Abbas and the Strait of Hormuz, the fleet supports coastal sea denial, mine warfare, and anti-ship strike; during Operation Epic Fury, CENTCOM listed Iranian Navy ships and submarines among vessels damaged or destroyed.
Iran fielded its submarine force as part of its naval order of battle in the 2020 United States-Iran Conflict; CENTCOM's Operation Epic Fury fact sheet lists Iranian Navy ships and submarines among vessels damaged or destroyed, and follow-on reporting identified a Fateh-class boat at Bandar Abbas among the losses.
Iran's submarine force mixes a few larger imported attack submarines with more numerous indigenous coastal and midget designs. That split matters because the Kilo/Tareq boats provide endurance and heavier torpedo capacity, while Fateh and Ghadir-type boats are better matched to restricted Persian Gulf operating areas.
| Class family | Build path | Role in the force |
|---|---|---|
| Tareq / Kilo | Russian-built Project 877EKM boats | Largest diesel-electric attack submarines in Iranian service, used for longer-endurance patrol, torpedo, mine, and anti-ship missions. |
| Fateh | Iranian-built coastal submarine | Indigenous diesel-electric class between the Kilo and midget-boat tiers, with an AIP development path displayed publicly in 2024. |
| Ghadir | Iranian-built midget submarine | Numerous shallow-water boats suited to Persian Gulf coastal patrol, mine warfare, and short-range attack tasks. |
| Nahang and smaller boats | Iranian-built midget and special-purpose designs | Specialized small submarines that broaden Iran's restricted-water submarine options. |
This page covers Iran's submarine force as a family record rather than one hull class; the main classes differ sharply in displacement, endurance, and coastal role.
| Variant | Configuration | Designation notes |
|---|---|---|
| Tareq / Project 877EKM Kilo | Imported diesel-electric attack submarine | Russian-built Kilo boats are Iran's largest submarines and provide the fleet's long-endurance diesel-electric attack-submarine component. Sources: Iran Submarine Capabilities |
| Fateh-class | Iranian-built coastal attack submarine | Fateh gives Iran a larger indigenous submarine than the Ghadir midget boats; Naval News reported that an air-independent-propulsion version was displayed at DIMDEX 2024. Sources: Iran Submarine Capabilities, Naval News on Fateh AIP version |
| Ghadir-class | Midget submarine | Ghadir boats form the numerous shallow-water element of the force and are associated with coastal patrol, mine warfare, and short-range attack roles. Sources: Iran Submarine Capabilities |
| Nahang-class and smaller boats | Specialized midget-submarine family | Iran has also developed smaller submarine designs that complement the larger Kilo, Fateh, and Ghadir classes in restricted-water operations. Sources: Iran Submarine Capabilities |
Iran commissioned the Russian-built Tareq, its first Kilo-class submarine, establishing the fleet's imported diesel-electric attack-submarine element.
Sources: Iran Submarine Capabilities, AP on Tareq commissioning
Iran began deploying Ghadir-class and Nahang-class mini submarines for shallow-water Persian Gulf operations, broadening the fleet beyond the larger Kilo boats.
Sources: Iran Submarine Capabilities, ODIN Ghadir class
Iran introduced the Fateh-class submarine as a larger indigenous diesel-electric design bridging the gap between Kilo boats and midget submarines.
Sources: Iran Submarine Capabilities, Naval News on Fateh commissioning
Naval News reported that Iran displayed an air-independent-propulsion version of the Fateh-class submarine at DIMDEX 2024.
Sources: Naval News on Fateh AIP version
CENTCOM's Operation Epic Fury fact sheet listed Iranian Navy ships and submarines among vessels damaged or destroyed, while follow-on reporting identified a Fateh-class submarine struck at Bandar Abbas.
Sources: Operation Epic Fury fact sheet, TWZ on Fateh submarine loss
