Iranian Warship Thought to be Headed to Venezuela Left Port with 7 High-Speed Missile Boats Aboard

An Iranian Navy ship thought to be bound for Venezuela left its port in late April with seven high-speed missile-attack craft strapped to its deck.

According to imagery provided by Maxar, the Iranian Navy’s new forward-basing ship, IRINS Makran, was seen on April 28 after leaving its homeport with seven attack boats aboard.

Last week, citing three U.S. officials, Politico reported that the Pentagon believes Makran and an Iranian frigate were steaming down Africa’s east coast ultimately bound for Venezuela. On Monday, Iranian Foreign Ministry officials asserted their rights to operate worldwide when asked about Makran heading to Venezuela.

“[Mistry spokesman] Saeed Khatibzadeh emphasized Iran’s legal right to go through all international seas,” according to a summary of a Monday press conference from the state-controlled Iran Press News Agency.

“Khatibzadeh also warned the U.S. officials about any actions against Iranian ships.

Those boats seen in the satellite images match the characteristics of the Peykaap family of medium-sized fast attack craft (FAC) operated by the sectarian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy (IRGCN). The IRGCN is responsible for the coastal security of Iran and the Strait of Hormuz and similar vessels equipped with torpedoes and missiles have been used to harass U.S. ships in the Persian Gulf.

The seven missile craft aboard Makran are each approximately 57 feet (17.5 meters) long and match the Peykaap family of medium-sized fast attack craft operated by Iran. There are several variations of these craft in Iranian service, although all are generally similar. The latest Peykaap-II type (also known as the Bavar class) is 57 feet long and can carry two anti-ship missiles and two 12.75 inch torpedoes. The missiles could be of the Kowsar or Nasr types, which are derived from Chinese models with a quite modest range of around 18 nautical miles.

Additionally, the ship could be carrying other military equipment not readily apparent from the imagery. A converted oil tanker, Makran is the Iranian Navy’s newest and largest warship. Its new role has been compared to the U.S. Navy’s Expeditionary Sea Base (ESB). Like the ESBs, the 755-foot long Makran is designed to be a mobile sea base for small boats and aircraft capable of operating anywhere around the world. The conversion added a large flight deck, the capacity to carry boats and other equipment on deck and additional cargo below.

There has been concern that Venezuela may attempt to acquire ballistic missile technology from Iran. Some areas of the deck are now covered, so it has not been possible to assess the full cargo of the ship. Venezuela’s regime, led by President Nicola Maduro, has talked openly about acquiring arms from Iran. Meanwhile, Iranian special forces belonging to the IRGC’s Quds force may already be assisting the Venezuelan military.

If the boats are delivered, they may form the core of an asymmetrical warfare force within Venezuela’s armed forces. This could be focused on disrupting shipping as a means of countering superior naval forces. Shipping routes to and from the Panama Canal are near the Venezuelan coast.

The Venezuelan Navy has tried over the last several years to beef up its own coastal defense ships with the acquisition of high-speed attack craft to enforce its territorial claims over the Caribbean Sea, according to an October entry in Jane’s World Navies.

Messages left with spokespeople in U.S. Southern and Central commands on Tuesday were not immediately returned.

Pentagon spokesman John Kirby would not confirm the move of Makran or the cargo when asked by  News on Tuesday.

“The Southern Command certainly has the ability to look after our interests in that part of the world,” he told reporters.

The deployment of Makran comes as Iran and Venezuela are growing closer together. Both governments are under sanctions from the U.S. government and have been restricted from accessing the global market.

Last year, the Maduro government exchanged nine tons of gold for assistance improving their petroleum refineries, reported Bloomberg. Iran has also shipped oil to Venezuela.