TEHRAN – Iran’s Navy is going to unveil a new homegrown submarine in comingdays, Navy Commander Rear Admiral Hossein Khanzadi said.link>

Speaking to reporters on Sunday, the top commander said the new watercraftwill be the last one of midget-class submarines at the Navy’s disposal.

The Iranian Navy will begin to receive a new generation of submarines as ofnext year, he added.

Rear Admiral Khanzadi also said that a military vessel of Jamaran-classdestroyers will join the southern fleet in the current Iranian year, whichwill end on March 20.

Iran’s Navy is in charge of protecting Iran’s southern territorial watersin the Sea of Oman, while the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) istasked with ensuring security of the Persian Gulf.

In recent years, Iran’s Navy has made great advances in making homegrownequipment and has increased its presence in high seas to secure navalroutes and protect vessels against pirate attacks.

In November 2017, Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed AliKhamenei called for the expansion of the Navy’s capabilities by making useof the country’s advances in other sectors.

The Navy should enhance its capabilities both in terms of military gear andcombat power, Ayatollah Khamenei said at the time.