18-Feb-2019: Iran Launches New 'Fateh' Submarine, Capable Of Firing Cruise Missiles

Iran launched a new locally-made submarine capable of firing cruise missiles. The launch ceremony, led by President Hassan Rouhani, took place in the southern port city of Bandar Abbas.

Named the Fateh (Farsi for 'Conqueror'), the new submarine is Iran's first in the semi-heavy category, filling a gap between the light Ghadir class and the heavy Kilo class submarines that the country possesses.

The near 600-tonne underwater vessel is equipped with torpedoes and naval mines in addition to cruise missiles, and can operate more than 200 metres below sea level for up to 35 days.

The US withdrew from a 2015 multilateral nuclear deal with Iran in May 2018 and re-imposed biting unilateral sanctions later last year.

The surface-to-surface missile -- called Dezful -- is an upgrade on the older Zolfaghar model that had a range of 700 kilometres.