Iran: The Latest How the Iran war was years in the planning
12 snips
Mar 5, 2026 
Nicholas Hopton, former UK ambassador to Iran, offers concise diplomatic perspective on Tehran and regional politics. Tom Sharpe, ex-Royal Navy commander, brings frontline naval and submarine expertise. They discuss Iran’s post-1980s naval reconfiguration, IRGC fast-attack and mini-sub threats, the tactical nightmare of the Strait of Hormuz, and the hard choices around submarine warfare and Western naval options.
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Mini‑Submarines And Mines Remain Unused Levers
- Iran still holds escalatory maritime options it has not yet fully used, including mini‑submarines and mines, which could close the Strait further.
- Sharpe notes Gadir mini‑subs carry two heavyweight torpedoes and hide by hovering on tides, designed to wait and strike transit shipping.
Restraint Or Incapacity Is The Critical Question
- The key unknown is whether Iran is withholding maritime force to escalate later or simply cannot coordinate due to degraded command and control.
- Sharpe frames this as an exam question: are they choosing restraint or rendered incapable by strikes?
Submarine Strike Placed To Maximise Surprise
- Sharpe describes the US submarine torpedoing the Iranian frigate off Sri Lanka as a deliberate long‑range strike to catch the ship unprepared.
- He suggests the sub was placed at maximum effective range so the Iranians would not expect an SSN threat.