Iran Says It’s Deployed Mini Subs in Contest to Control Hormuz

Oil tankers navigate the sea near Qeshm Island, Iran in the Strait of Hormuz on April 28.Photographer: Asghar Besharati/Getty Images

Provide news feedback or report an error

May 11, 2026 at 4:45 PM UTC

Iran says it’s deployed small submarines to act as an “invisible guardian” of the Strait of Hormuz amid a series of rejected peace deals between Tehran and the US.

The Islamic Republic has at least 16 of the Ghadir-class midget submarines, according to the International Institute for Strategic Studies. Each has a crew of fewer than 10 people and can carry either two torpedoes or two Chinese-designed C-704 anti-ship cruise missiles.