Iranian media reported an accident at the Gulf of Oman, in which nineteen sailors have been killed and 15 have been injured during a naval ‘friendly fire’.
The Konarak, an Iranian support ship, was hit by a new anti-ship test missile during a naval exercise by the frigate Jamaran on Sunday. This accident happened near the Strait of Hormuz, a point of strategic importance as one fifth of the world’s oil passes through it.
The Navy reported that investigations have begun on this issue and that the ship has been docked ashore.
Iran’s navy said in a statement that, “On Sunday evening… during naval exercises performed by a number of the naval force’s vessels in the waters of Jask and Chabahar, an accident happened involving the Konarak light support ship vessel, causing the martyrdom of a number of brave members of the naval forces”, further adding that the Konarak had been taken to a port for “technical inspection”, without mentioning about the accident.
Iran is seeking to broaden the sphere of its naval operations and to upgrade its warships’ armament. The frigate Jamaran is part of a new class of home-built vessels intended to set a new course for Iran’s navy.
This isn’t the first time that the armed forces of Iran have gotten into trouble. In January 2019, they had fired two surface-to-air missiles at an unidentified target, bringing down a Ukrainian airliner, killing all those on board.