Iran attempted to launch a cruise missile from a Yono-class “midget” submarine in the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday, but the test failed, according to U.S. officials.
It’s not clear whether Tuesday was the first time Iran conducted an underwater missile test, reports surfaced last month that Iran’s naval forces had access to new anti-ship cruise missiles, according to RT.
Iran also has been buying weapons, “including air-defense systems, nuclear assistance and possibly fighter jets and tanks” from Russia, which comes amid an increased budget for Iran’s defense strategies, noted The Washington Times.
According to Fox News, Iran and North Korea are the only two countries with the type of submarine that launched the missile Tuesday.
North Korea successfully launched a ballistic missile test from a submarine in 2015 – the first time it had ever done so.