Iran’s DM Sees Iran’s Anti-Ship Missiles as Counterbalance to US Naval Strategy

Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Ahmad Vahidi said that Iran’s powerful anti-ship cruise and ballistic missiles along the country’s coasts, specially at the Southeastern coasts, have acted as a counterbalance to enemies’ naval strategy.

Addressing the national conference on the development of Iran’s Southeastern coasts of Makran in Iran’s port city of Chabahar on Monday, Vahidi underlined the strategic role of Makran coasts for Iran’s naval power and security of the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz.

“With its powerful presence in Makran coasts, the (Iranian) Army’s Navy can push back enemies from the (Iranian) coasts and prevent them from exercising their strategy. When our coastal defense can aim and hit targets deep in waters using our coast-to-sea missiles, that means a failure of the enemies’ strategy,” Vahidi said, adding that Iran’s anti-ship cruise and ballistic missiles can hit naval targets from a long distance.

“When we have a mighty military power along Makran coasts, no power dares to ignite fire in the Persian Gulf, and Makran coasts are the real security provider for the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz,” he added.

Yesterday, the Iranian Navy said it is establishing a new naval base at the country’s Southeastern borders along the coast of the Sea of Oman in a bid to strengthen the country’s line of defense, Iran’s top Navy commander said.

The Navy has intensified its efforts to develop the Makran coasts, which stretches from Iran’s port city of Bandar Abbas to Makran (also known as Pasabandar).

In July, the IRGC Aerospace Force test-fired a supersonic anti-ship ballistic missile in the last phase of the Payambar-e Azam 7 (The Great Prophet 7) massive missile wargames.

The IRGC units fired several Khalij-e Fars (Persian Gulf) naval missiles at naval targets.

The supersonic projectile, which carries a 650-kilogram warhead, is immune to interception and features high-precision systems.

In January 2012, The Iranian Navy launched its powerful anti-ship Qader (Mighty) cruise missiles during its naval wargames, codenamed Velayat 90, in international waters in the Sea of Oman.

The Iranian defense minister said at the time that Qader is an anti-ship cruise missile with a range of 200km and enjoys a short launch time and is able to hit all naval vessels, including frigates and warships, as well as onshore enemy targets.