How Does Iran Destroy American Warships?
Iranian Armed Forces Possess Weapons and Tactics Capable of Targeting American Naval Power in the Persian Gulf
Iran | PUREWILAYAH.COM — Iran’s Armed Forces possess a wide range of weapons systems and operational tactics capable of targeting and neutralizing American warships, particularly within the strategic environment of the Persian Gulf.
Iran’s Tasnim News Agency highlighted recent remarks by the Leader of the Islamic Revolution referring to the possibility of sinking American vessels, reigniting a central question: does Iran truly possess such a capability?
An examination of past incidents, coupled with Iran’s current military arsenal, indicates that this capability is not theoretical.
Historical Precedents of U.S. Naval Vulnerability
Damage to American combat vessels in the Persian Gulf is not without precedent. During the eight-year imposed war, the U.S. warship Samuel B. Roberts sustained damage after striking naval mines deployed by Iran.
In a separate incident, the USS Stark suffered severe damage when it was struck by a missile mistakenly fired from an Iraqi aircraft.
These incidents demonstrated that U.S. warships, despite advanced technology and layered defensive systems, are not invulnerable and possess critical points of weakness.
Expanded Iranian Capabilities Since the War
Decades have passed since those incidents, and Iran today possesses far more diverse and powerful capabilities to inflict damage on American naval assets—especially within the confined and strategically sensitive waters of the Persian Gulf.
Iran’s arsenal includes a wide range of cruise missiles capable of being launched from land, air, sea, and even from beneath the sea. These missiles are designed to operate intelligently, approaching their targets from multiple directions. Such attack profiles have been repeatedly practiced during naval exercises conducted by both the Iranian Army and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
Notably, these cruise missiles are now capable of striking targets at ranges of up to 1,500 kilometers.
Ballistic Missiles, Mines, and Underwater Warfare
In addition to cruise missiles, Iran fields ballistic missiles equipped with optical seekers capable of targeting naval vessels at ranges of up to 1,300 kilometers.
Alongside these systems, Iran’s Armed Forces operate various types of naval mines, intelligent underwater platforms, and powerful torpedoes designed to strike targets with high precision.
All of these assets are integrated into Iran’s operational military structure and are specifically suited to maritime warfare.
High-Speed Torpedoes and Saturation Tactics
Among Iran’s notable capabilities is the Hoot supercavitating torpedo, which travels at speeds exceeding 100 meters per second. At such velocities, the torpedo is capable of overcoming shipborne defensive systems.
Beyond individual weapons, Iranian doctrine emphasizes combined and multi-layered attack tactics. By striking a single vessel simultaneously from multiple directions, across different surface levels and altitudes, defensive systems can be confused or saturated. This tactic significantly increases the vulnerability of even heavily defended warships.
Overcoming Sea-Based Defense Systems
American warships are equipped with a range of sea-based air and missile defense systems designed to counter threats across varying altitudes and operational layers.
However, diverse tactics for targeting these vessels exist, and the required weapons to implement such tactics are in the possession of both the Iranian Army Navy and the IRGC Navy.
Operational Feasibility in the Persian Gulf and Sea of Oman
Based on existing capabilities and doctrine, inflicting serious damage on American warships—particularly in the Persian Gulf and even in the Sea of Oman—is well within the operational reach of Iran’s naval forces.
The necessary weapons, platforms, and tactical frameworks for such operations are already available to Iran’s Armed Forces, underscoring that the threat to hostile naval assets in these waters is both real and actionable. (PW)