Iran deploys submarine, destroyer

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TEHRAN, Sept. 18 (UPI) -- The Iranian military announced Tuesday that a submarine and a domestically made destroyer were launched from the southern port of Bandar Abbas.

Iranian broadcaster Press TV reports the Tareq 901 submarine, a Russian-made vessel, and the domestically built Sahand destroyer were deployed on orders from Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, the country's ruling cleric.

Iranian naval officials early this year said the country would work to overhaul the submarine at home after disputes with the country of origin.

"This shows that Iran can achieve its goals by all means," said Rear Adm. Abbas Zamini, the manager of the project, in a statement to Press TV.

The U.S. military has deployed resources to the Persian Gulf to protect shipping lanes in the Strait of Hormuz. Missile defense systems for the region and for Eastern Europe are planned by the United States as an Iranian deterrence.

Iranian naval officials had said that U.S. military activity in the Persian Gulf was under the close observation of Iranian intelligence services.

Press TV reports that Iran's military posture was based on defense purposes only.