How strong is Iran's Navy and can it really block the world's oil lifeline?

Time of India

23-06-2025

Amid rising tensions with the U.S., Iran threatens to close the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global oil route. Despite not being a naval superpower, Iran's navy, divided into IRIN and IRGCN, employs asymmetric warfare strategies. With diverse vessels and strategically located bases, Iran aims to defend its coastlines and disrupt enemy movements, particularly in the Strait.
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Iran's Naval Power: Strength in Asymmetry
Fleet Composition: Submarines, Frigates, and Drones
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Pic credit: Global Firepower Ranking
IRGC Navy: The Real Threat in Hormuz
Bandar Abbas: Main naval HQ and submarine production center
Jask: Iran's front-line base in the Gulf of Oman
Chabahar: Southern outpost with access to the Indian Ocean
Bandar-e Anzali: Northern base protecting oil assets
Imam Ali Base (Chabahar): Offensive and patrol operations hub
Kharg Island: Guards Persian Gulf oil infrastructure
Amid escalating tensions with the U.S., Iran has once again threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz—a narrow chokepoint through which nearly 20% of global oil and gas flows. The threat follows Washington's decision to support Israeli military actions against Iran, stoking fears of a broader regional conflict that could disrupt global energy markets.This has put Iran's naval power under fresh scrutiny. How capable is Iran's navy, and could it realistically block the world's most critical oil artery?According to Global Firepower's 2024 rankings, Iran's navy stands 37th among 145 countries—positioning it as a mid-tier force with regional reach. Despite lacking the scale of world naval superpowers, Iran has spent decades cultivating a strategy rooted in asymmetric warfare, indigenous technology, and geographic advantage.Iran's naval forces are divided into two main branches: The Islamic Republic of Iran Navy (IRIN) – the official naval arm with over 18,500 personnel and more than 100 vessels, including submarines, frigates, and destroyers. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy (IRGCN) – a separate and agile force focused on fast-attack crafts, mines, and hit-and-run tactics, particularly around the Strait of Hormuz. Together, these forces represent a layered defense system built since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, focused heavily on defending Iran's southern coastlines and disrupting enemy movements in nearby waters, according to the Euronews.As per Global Fire Power database, Iran's conventional naval fleet boasts an increasingly diverse arsenal: Destroyers & Frigates: Modern warships like Sahand, Zagros, and Zulfiqar are equipped with precision missile systems and intelligence-gathering tools. The Alvand and Moj-class frigates, some domestically built, support medium-range operations.Iran has 25 submarines including 3 Tareq-class (Kilo-class) diesel-electric subs for mine-laying and missile launches, 2 Fateh-class attack submarines with torpedo and missile capabilities, up to 23 Ghadir-class midget subs for shallow-water operations and special missions, and 1 Nahang-class sub for special forces transport, Euronews claimed.The IRGC Navy is said to pose the real threat in the Strait of Hormuz. As per the report, it doesn't rely on large ships—it uses speed and surprise. Its fleet includes10 Houdong missile boats, 25 Peykaap II boats, 10 MK13 fast attack crafts, special units for reconnaissance, cyber warfare, and mine deployment.Their tactics focus on swarm attacks, sea mines, drones, and kamikaze-style speedboats, designed to overwhelm larger, slower enemy vessels—particularly in narrow chokepoints like Hormuz, the report claimed.Iran has also reportedly strategically located naval bases to protect both its northern (Caspian Sea) and southern (Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman) fronts:Additional IRGC-specific bases, such as Sirik, Tamb al-Kubra, and Abu Musa Island, house missile defense systems and underground bunkers near the Strait of Hormuz—bolstering Iran's control over the region, claimed the report.