Iran's semi-official Fars news agency says Iran has sent submarines to the Red Sea in the first such deployment by the country's navy.
The report -- citing an unnamed government official -- said the submarines would collect information in international waters and identify warships of other countries.
It said the submarines accompanied Iranian warships on a mission to fight piracy in the Gulf of Aden and then entered the Red Sea earlier this month.
It did not give details on the number or capabilities of the submarines.
Iran has deployed warships as far as the Red Sea to fight Somali pirates but has not previously said it has sent submarines to these waters.
Earlier this year, Israel denounced as a "provocation" a naval visit by two Iranian warships to Syria.
compiled from agency reports
The report -- citing an unnamed government official -- said the submarines would collect information in international waters and identify warships of other countries.
It said the submarines accompanied Iranian warships on a mission to fight piracy in the Gulf of Aden and then entered the Red Sea earlier this month.
It did not give details on the number or capabilities of the submarines.
Iran has deployed warships as far as the Red Sea to fight Somali pirates but has not previously said it has sent submarines to these waters.
Earlier this year, Israel denounced as a "provocation" a naval visit by two Iranian warships to Syria.
compiled from agency reports