Gulf of Oman — The undersea balance of power in the Iran war has shifted after the United States struck what it calls Iran’s most advanced operational submarine, the IRIS Fateh, in a precision attack coordinated with Israel’s wider campaign.

According to US defence officials, Fateh was preparing to leave a fortified pier on Iran’s southern coast when satellite and drone surveillance confirmed crews loading torpedoes and anti‑ship missiles believed destined for operations against US and Israeli ships. Minutes later, submarine‑launched Tomahawks and stand‑off air‑launched weapons slammed into the narrow harbour, engulfing the quay in fire and sending a violent shockwave through the water.

Footage circulating online shows a towering plume of smoke above the naval base and what appears to be a partially submerged hull listing heavily at its moorings. Washington says the strike “neutralised a key tool in Iran’s covert sea‑denial strategy,” while Israeli officials call it “a direct message to every platform threatening our sea lanes.”

Tehran insists Fateh suffered only “limited damage,” vowing the sub “will return to service to hunt invaders.” But local reports speak of frantic rescue efforts, flooded compartments and a sealed‑off dockyard under heavy IRGC guard — signs, analysts say, that Iran’s prized boat may be out of action for the foreseeable future.

By targeting IRIS Fateh, the US and Israel have not just hit a single submarine; they have gone after the symbol of Iran’s ambitions below the surface — and warned that any platform capable of stalking their fleets will itself be hunted, even in its own home port.