The Iranian military test-fired a high-speed torpedo close to the strategically crucial Strait of Hormuz Sunday, according to an NBC news report.
Iran tested its Hoot torpedo, an alleged derivative of the Russian Shkval, which is capable of traveling at speeds much greater than traditional torpedoes. The new weapon will be able to travel at around 250 miles per hour for up to 12,000 yards, defense officials told NBC. It is unclear whether or not the test was a success.
Iran last tested the torpedo in February 2015, and at least one other time in 2006. Iran’s paramilitary Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed at the time enemy ships would not be able to escape the torpedo’s high speeds.
The Strait of Hormuz is considered one of the most important strategic locations in the Middle East. Located in the Persian Gulf, a substantial portion of global oil passes through the narrow strait every day. The USS George H.W. Bush carrier group is currently patrolling the Gulf. However, the test did not pose a threat to U.S. vessels in the area.
The test is the most recent of Iran’s ongoing provocative actions in the Gulf. Past incursions have included the temporary detention of U.S. sailors and frequent harassment of U.S. ships.
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