Iran began mass-producing 2 high-speed variants of missile-launching assault boats to boost security along its coastline.
The inauguration of the production lines for the Seraj and Zolfaqar speedboats comes after President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad unveiled Iran's home-built bomber drone.
State news agency IRNA reported that the Seraj (Lamp) and Zolfaqar (named after Shiite Imam Ali's sword) boats would be manufactured at the marine industries complex of the ministry of defense.
Defence Minister Ahmad Vahidi opened the assembly lines, saying the vessels would help to strengthen Iran's defences, IRNA said. "Today, the Islamic Republic of Iran is relying on a great defense industry and the powerful forces of Sepah (Revolutionary Guards) and the army, with their utmost strength, can provide security to the Persian Gulf, the Sea of Oman, and Strait of Hormuz," Vahidi said.
"The enemy must be careful of its adventurous behavior and not play with fire because the Islamic Republic of Iran's response would be unpredictable," IRNA quoted him as saying.
"If enemies attack Iran, the Islamic Republic of Iran's reaction will not be restricted to one area. The truth of our defense doctrine is that we will not attack any country and that we extend our hand to all legitimate countries."
Iran has in the past threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz, choking off some 40% of tanker-shipped oil worldwide, in the event of a military attack.
IRNA said Zolfaqar was a new generation missile-launching vessel which can be used for patrolling as well as for attack operations. "It is designed for quick assaults on ships and is equipped with two missile launchers, two machine guns and a computer system to control the missiles," the report said.
Fars news agency cited Vahidi as saying that Zolfaqar was to be equipped with the Nasr 1 (Victory) marine cruise missile "which has high destructive power." Iran has previously said that the Nasr missile can destroy targets weighing up to 3,000 tons.
IRNA said Seraj, designed for a tropical climate, was also a swift assault vessel for use in the Caspian Sea, the Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, adding that it can fire rockets and also be used in stormy seas.
"Seraj is a fast-moving assault rocket launcher using sophisticated and modern technology," Vahidi was cited as saying by IRNA.
The naval commander of Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards, Ali Fadavi, was quoted by IRNA as saying that the missile-launching boats are the world's fastest. "The Iranian-made missile-launching boats rank first in the world when it comes to their velocity," he said.
"The deterrent and devastating power of the Islamic Republic's armed forces will be very high in case of any aggression by the enemy," Fadavi warned.