British naval source tells me that Iran now posesses at least three German-built, most-silent, electric-powered submarines that are a threat to a carrier battle group in the Persian Gulf or Arabian Sea.
It also is said that the Iranians may have altered the German boats. I do not not know how the boats have been altered, nor do I know if aleration could include a missile launcher.
My guess of Iranian Navy deploying a submarined based missile threat is derivative of the Indian Navy threat that is reported to me.
Also, separately, I am told from a signals source that the Iranians are planning on achieveing a market-risk-scenario (therein lies the tale) that produces an $80-$100 barrel of oil to achieve their strategic power projection goals in the next years.
A 25% to 60% increase in oil from now will buy whatever boats are being shopped, not to rule out the Iranian Navy acquiring Black Sea Fleet hardware.
Also, really naive, trouble-making, dystopian inquiry: wd an American administration, or an EU administration, entertain selling Iran a decommissioned oil-based super-carrier? How about selling the nuke-fueled Enterprise when it is decommissioned in 2013 or so?
Renamed the Imam Ali.
