A top Iranian Navy commander has announced that three domestically-built Ghadir submarines have joined Iran's naval fleet, Press TV reported.
Iran's Navy Deputy Commander Rear Admiral Gholam Reza Khadem-Bigham said that the submarines are capable of launching torpedoes and operate in shallow waters as well as precision targeting.
Khadem-Bigham made the remarks during a ceremony, marking the delivery of the vessels to the Navy in the Iranian southern port city of Bandar Abbas in the Persian Gulf on Sunday, IRIB reported.
The Ghadir submarine was first unveiled in 2007. The 120-ton vessel has excellent shallow depth performance and can conduct prolonged coastal missions. The Iranian fleet currently has 11 Ghadir submarines in service.
On Saturday, Iranian Navy Commander Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari stated that the country's naval forces will stage a massive military exercise, code-named "Velayat 90," in the international waters in the near future.
Sayyari added that the drill will extend over a large area, from the Sea of Oman to the northern Indian Ocean.
The Iranian Navy staged the eight-day "Velayat 89" maneuvers in May 2010. The drills successfully tested various types of destroyers, submarines, anti-submarine torpedoes, mid-range cruise missiles, missile launcher frigates and fighter jets.
Over the past years, Iran has made important breakthroughs in its defense sector and attained self-sufficiency in producing important military equipment and systems.
Iran has repeatedly clarified that its military might is merely based on the nation's defense doctrine of deterrence and poses no threat to other countries.