Iran to build nuclear powered subs

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TEHRAN, June 12 (UPI) -- The Islamic Republic is in the initial stages of building nuclear-powered submarines, a senior Iranian naval officer said Tuesday.

"Right now we are at the initial phases of manufacturing atomic submarines," Rear Adm. Abbas Zamini of the Iranian navy's technical affairs department told the semi-official Fars news agency.

Zamini said nuclear-powered submarines fall within the realm of civilian use of nuclear technology and all countries have the right to manufacture them.

Last year the Younus, a Tareq class submarine, spent 68 days in international waters, accompanying the navy's 14th fleet on maneuvers in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, Fars said.