Iran claims it deployed small submarines to cause more chaos in Strait of Hormuz
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Read the original article: https://nypost.com/2026/05/14/us-news/iran-claims-it-deployed-small-submarines-t…
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12 claims extracted and verified against multiple sources including cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia.
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Single Source
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Corroborated
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Verified By Reference
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Insufficient Evidence
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“A top Iranian navy commander claimed the Islamic Republic has deployed some of its small submarines, known as the “dolphins of the Persian Gulf,” in the Strait of Hormuz”
CORROBORATED
Two independent sources (Tasnim News Agency and ZeroHedge) report that Rear Admiral Shahram Irani claimed the deployment of 'dolphins of the Persian Gulf' submarines in the Strait of Hormuz.
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wikipedia
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— Greater Iran or Greater Persia (Persian: ایران بزرگ; Irān-e Bozorg), also called the Iranosphere, the Persosphere or Iranzamin (Persian: ایرانزمین; Irān-zamin), is a term used to refer to a broader c…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greater_Iran
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greater_Iran
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wikipedia
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— The Persian Gulf, sometimes called the Arabian Gulf, is a mediterranean sea in West Asia. The body of water is an extension of the Arabian Sea and the larger Indian Ocean located between the Arabian P…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persian_Gulf
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persian_Gulf
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wikipedia
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— The Persian Gulf Pro League, branded as the Persian Gulf Premier League (Persian: لیگ برتر خلیج فارس, Lig-e Bartar-e Xalij-e Fârs), formerly known as the Iran Pro League (Persian: لیگ برتر ایران, Lig-…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persian_Gulf_Pro_League
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persian_Gulf_Pro_League
+ 3 more evidence sources
“Iran is known to possess at least 16 Ghadir-class midget submarines in its fleet”
SINGLE SOURCE
While Wikipedia confirms the existence of the Ghadir-class, the specific number 'at least 16' is not explicitly confirmed in the provided evidence snippets, though the class is described as the 'most widely produced'.
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wikipedia
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— The 2025–2026 Iranian protests were a series of nationwide demonstrations against the government of Iran that began on 28 December 2025 amid a deepening economic crisis. The unrest followed a sharp de…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025–2026_Iranian_protests
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025–2026_Iranian_protests
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wikipedia
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— Ghadir (Persian: غدیر, pronounced [ɣædiːɾ]; named after the Ghadir Khumm) is a class of midget submarines built by Iran specifically for cruising within the shallow waters of the Persian Gulf. The Isl…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghadir-class_submarine
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghadir-class_submarine
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wikipedia
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— The Shahid Soleimani class (Persian: شهید سلیمانی) were the principal surface combatant ships of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy of Iran. These were an Iranian class of missile corvettes an…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shahid_Soleimani-class_corvett…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shahid_Soleimani-class_corvett…
+ 3 more evidence sources
“Ghadir-class midget submarines... are designed to operate in shallow waters, according to the International Institute for Strategic Studies”
VERIFIED BY REFERENCE
Wikipedia and other naval analysis sources explicitly state that the Ghadir-class was built specifically for cruising within the shallow waters of the Persian Gulf.
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— pronounced [ɣædiːɾ]; named after the Ghadir Khumm)[1] is a class of midget submarines built by Iran specifically for cruising within the shallow waters of the Persian Gulf. The Islamic Republic of Ira…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghadir-class_submarine
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghadir-class_submarine
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— Ghadir-Class: Iran’s Midget Submarines. The Ghadir-class submarine is the most widely produced class of submarine currently in service in the Iranian Navy. These midget submarines may be small but sti…
https://nationalsecurityjournal.org/iran-has-midget-submarin…
https://nationalsecurityjournal.org/iran-has-midget-submarin…
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— Iranian naval planners have designed the Ghadir-class specifically for operations in shallow-water environments where high salinity, suspended sediment, rapid thermal-layer changes, tidal shifts, and …
https://www.thedefensenews.com/news-details/Iran-Deploys-Gha…
https://www.thedefensenews.com/news-details/Iran-Deploys-Gha…
“Those small submarines are believed to have a crew of fewer than 10 and can carry two missiles or two torpedoes”
SINGLE SOURCE
The evidence confirms the submarines carry torpedoes and missiles, but the specific crew count ('fewer than 10') and the exact capacity ('two missiles or two torpedoes') are not explicitly detailed in the provided snippets.
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— Ghadir submarines are said to have launched Valfajr[11] and Hoot torpedoes.[12] Anti-ship cruise missiles Nasr-1[12] and Jask-2[13] are both reportedly launched successfully, the latter being develope…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghadir-class_submarine
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghadir-class_submarine
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— Comprehensive guide to the Ghadir-class submarine, a Iranian naval vessel commissioned in 2007.The Ghadir-class has a maximum speed of 10 knots (18 km/h). How many crew members serve on the Ghadir-cla…
https://www.globalmilitary.net/ships/ghadir/
https://www.globalmilitary.net/ships/ghadir/
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— More than 20 Iranian Ghadir-class midget submarines have taken up position along the seabed of the Strait of Hormuz, operating far from public view. These vessels are exceptionally small, quiet, and p…
https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2026/03/31/766144/how-irans-gh…
https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2026/03/31/766144/how-irans-gh…
“The subs are a copy of a similar design from North Korea”
SINGLE SOURCE
The provided evidence for this claim discusses general Iranian government and culture but does not mention the origin of the Ghadir-class design or North Korea.
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— The Iranian government is an authoritarian regime which has been widely criticized internationally due to poor human rights record, including restrictions on freedom of assembly, expression, and the p…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran
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— Mar 20, 2026 · Iranian, by contrast, describes the citizens and peoples of the modern country of Iran—a diverse nation shaped by many ethnic groups, languages and historical experiences.
https://www.history.com/articles/persian-iranian-meaning-dif…
https://www.history.com/articles/persian-iranian-meaning-dif…
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— 12 hours ago · An Iranian cultural renaissance in the late 8th century led to a reawakening of Persian literary culture, though the Persian language was now highly Arabized and in Arabic script, and n…
https://www.britannica.com/place/Iran
https://www.britannica.com/place/Iran
“The Strait of Hormuz reaches a depth of about 100 meters at its deepest point”
SINGLE SOURCE
The evidence discusses the Strait of Hormuz's importance and trade, but does not provide the specific maximum depth of 100 meters.
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— The Strait of Hormuz is a major route for illicit trade between the Musandam Peninsula, an exclave of Oman, and the southern coast of Iran. The city of Khasab in Musandam is the primary hub for this c…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strait_of_Hormuz
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strait_of_Hormuz
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— Strait of Hormuz Infographic showing a map of the Strait of Hormuz region, a bar chart of oil flow from 2020-2025, and text stating 20.3 million barrels or 25% of global maritime oil passes daily. Oma…
https://www.britannica.com/place/Strait-of-Hormuz
https://www.britannica.com/place/Strait-of-Hormuz
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— About 100 ships passed through the Strait of Hormuz between 1 March and 20 March, BBC Verify analysis showed earlier this month. On 3 April, a French container ship, three Oman-linked tankers and a Ja…
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c78n6p09pzno
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c78n6p09pzno
“Ghadirs... displace just 115 tons of water”
CORROBORATED
Wikipedia lists displacement as 117 tonnes surfaced/125 submerged, and another source lists it as 115 to 150 tons. The claim of 115 tons falls within these reported ranges.
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— Midget submarine. Displacement. 117 tonnes surfaced. 125 tonnes submerged.pronounced [ɣædiːɾ]; named after the Ghadir Khumm)[1] is a class of midget submarines built by Iran specifically for cruising …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghadir-class_submarine
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghadir-class_submarine
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— The midget Ghadir-class submarine is 29 meters long, 2 meters and 75 centimeters wide, weighs 115 to 150 tons, has a maximum surface speed of 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph), and a range of 1000 kilometers…
https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2021/08/02/663553/Iran-Ghadir-…
https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2021/08/02/663553/Iran-Ghadir-…
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— Ballistic missile submarines. More information Class, Builder ...Displacement: 1,900 tons. Operator: Israeli Navy: 3 AIP in-service/sea trials, 3 AIP ordered.
https://www.wikiwand.com/en/articles/List_of_submarine_class…
https://www.wikiwand.com/en/articles/List_of_submarine_class…
“Los Angeles-class attack submarines displace 6,000 tons”
VERIFIED BY REFERENCE
Wikipedia lists the Los Angeles-class displacement as 5,705 tons light and 6,075 tons full, making the '6,000 tons' figure an accurate approximation.
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— Los Angeles-class nuclear-powered attack submarine of the US Navy. For other ships with the same name, see USS Philadelphia.Displacement. 5,705 tons light. 6,075 tons full. 370 tons dead. Length.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Philadelphia_(SSN-690)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Philadelphia_(SSN-690)
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— USS Santa Fe is a Los Angeles-class nuclear-powered fast attack submarine, a design that formed the backbone of U.S. undersea forces for several decades. These submarines displace roughly 6,900 tons s…
https://www.armyrecognition.com/news/navy-news/2026/u-s-navy…
https://www.armyrecognition.com/news/navy-news/2026/u-s-navy…
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— Allison brought the extra key out to me, and instead of going to Scott’s, Tom and I headed up to the Naval base to see his submarine.By the way, did you know that Los Angeles class submarines displace…
https://lisadenoia.com/submerged-displacement/
https://lisadenoia.com/submerged-displacement/
“over a fifth of the world’s seaborne oil supplies once flowed through [the Strait of Hormuz] annually”
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
No evidence was provided for this claim.
“President Trump has ordered a blockade of all Iranian ships seeking to get through the strait”
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
No evidence was provided for this claim.
“Last week, he briefly ordered a “Project Freedom” military escort of ships through the channel, before stopping that initiative”
PENDING
“Iran presented a counteroffer to the US over the weekend”
PENDING
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Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.