'Iran can terrify enemies from under sea'

“The new equipment (submarines) are smaller and faster under water and operate similar to our small speedboats, which terrify our enemies on the surface,” Mohammad-Ali Jafari said in an interview with Fars News Agency on Monday. 

Jafari said the IRGC is not seeking to build large submarines that are easily targetable for enemy forces and reiterated the Guard's asymmetric combat strategy. 

The brigadier general said that the country's enemies are aware of their vulnerability in the Persian Gulf and are likely to move their forces out into the Indian Ocean before launching a strike against Iran.

“We are trying to increase our operational range and reach enemy vessels there [in the Indian Ocean],” Jafari concluded. 

Earlier this month the Iranian military's navy announced plans to manufacture and deploy a new 500-ton submarine that is larger than the Ghadir submarine. 

The 120-ton Ghadir submarines joined the Iranian naval fleet in 2007. The Islamic Republic navy is believed to be operating more than ten of the light-weight subsurface vessels, primarily in the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman. 

In recent years, Iran has made important breakthroughs in its defense sector and attained self-sufficiency in producing important military equipment and systems. 

The Islamic Republic has repeatedly assured that its military might poses no threat to other countries, stating that Tehran's defense doctrine is based on deterrence only.