Iran still has a navy in the Caspian Sea. It's where America can't look

Summary

Iran still has a navy in the Caspian Sea. It's where America can't look Donald Trump has mocked Iran's navy, saying US and Israeli strikes sent it to the bottom. But Iran has another navy that the US can't touch. It's stationed on Iran's northern coast, on the Caspian Sea. It continues to operate under a protected geopolitical shield. Here's everything you need to know about it. Ever since the US and Israel's war on Iran began, US President Donald Trump has repeatedly mocked the Iranian navy, portraying it as a force that has been crushed beyond recovery. His latest jab came on Wednesday, when he shared a meme on Truth Social targeting CNN's reporting on Iran's naval capabilities. The AI-generated underwater image showed Iranian warships resting on the seabed. Trump meant to say that American military action had effectively wiped out Iran's maritime power. But there is a wing of the Iranian Navy that the US can't touch. Trump's boast is not entirely without basis. US and Israeli strikes have inflicted severe damage on Iran's primary naval assets in the Persian Gulf (south coast of Iran). It sank vessels, degrading the force's capabilities. Yet, up north, far from the Gulf waters, Iran has a functioning Northern Fleet in the landlocked Caspian Sea. The US has avoided targeting it so far in the war, and this naval wing has been the lifeline of Iran in the asymmetric war. The Northern Fleet's existence has so far fallen on the US' blind spot, perhaps to push the rhetoric that it is the winner. Protected by a very unique geopolitical environment of the Caspian Sea, Iran's northern naval force not only remains afloat, but has supported the country through the war in ways that did not make headlines. The littoral states of the Caspian Sea are TARIK — Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Russia, Iran and Kazakhstan — and that's exactly where things get tricky. Like the Persian Gulf, the Caspian Sea is also a geopolitical pool, but far harder to navigate, because Russia and China have a significant influence in this region. The Central Asian Republics (CARs), once part of the Soviet Union, have long been considered part of Russia's strategic sphere of influence. A LOOK AT IRAN'S NORTHERN FLEET, ITS STRUCTURE, CAPABILITIES, AND STRATEGIC ROLE Iran's Northern Fleet, formerly known as the 4th Naval Region of the Islamic Republic of Iran Navy (IRIN), is headquartered at the strategic port of Bandar Anzali in Gilan Province along the Caspian Sea's southern coast. Established to secure Iran's northern maritime frontier, the fleet plays a vital role in border protection, training, and limited power projection in a body of water shared with Russia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Turkmenistan. As of recent estimates, the fleet includes approximately 3,000 personnel and a modest, but capable mix of vessels suited to the Caspian's relatively shallow waters. Iran's key assets include one Moudge-class frigate, such as the IRINS Deylaman, commissioned in 2023, one corvette, several fast attack craft equipped with anti-ship missiles, a minesweeper, and around 10 patrol boats. These platforms support coastal defence, search-and-rescue operations, and joint training activities rather than blue-water power projection. Unlike Iran's southern navy, which has faced repeated confrontations in the high-tension Persian Gulf, the Northern Fleet focusses on defensive and cooperative missions. It serves as both a training hub and logistical base. Iran has domestic shipbuilding facilities near Bandar Anzali, producing vessels like the Peykan-class missile boats to bolster its presence. The fleet's integration into the broader IRIN structure allows it to support national security objectives without drawing the same level of international scrutiny as operations near the Strait of Hormuz. On March 30, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported that Israeli strikes damaged infrastructure and vessels at Bandar Anzali, including the naval headquarters. Nevertheless, the fleet's core operations have continued. HOW THE CASPIAN SEA SHILEDS IRAN'S NORTHERN FLEET The primary reason the United States and Israel have shown restraint toward Iran's Northern Fleet in the Caspian Sea is because of its unique geopolitical situation. As a landlocked body of water, it falls outside traditional open-ocean naval operations and is governed by agreements among the five littoral states. Russia maintains a significant Caspian Flotilla, and its close military partnership with Iran creates a deterrent against direct US intervention that could risk confrontation with Moscow. Moreover, joint naval exercises between Iran and Russia, such as the CASAREX series, have become regular features. These drills, often framed as search-and-rescue or maritime security operations, enhance coordination and signal strategic alignment to other regional players, including the Central Asian nations. Russia has relied on the Caspian route to supply Iran with critical components, particularly for drone production, helping Tehran rebuild capabilities amid sanctions and battlefield losses. In turn, the sea has served as a corridor for bilateral trade and military support, bypassing more vulnerable southern routes under Western surveillance. HOW CHINA HELPS IRAN THROUGH CASPIAN SEA China's growing footprint in the region adds another layer of complexity. Through its Belt and Road Initiative and energy interests, Beijing has expanded economic ties across Central Asia and the Caspian region. Investments in ports, pipelines, and transport corridors connect China's western provinces to European markets via Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, and Iran. While not directly military, this presence discourages actions that could destabilise trade routes vital to Chinese interests. The Caspian Sea, therefore, is like a "Middle Corridor" that offers alternatives to traditional paths, increasing its strategic value. This environment has allowed Iran to maintain a secondary naval arm that supports its overall defence infrastructure. The Northern Fleet secures maritime borders, facilitates training for sailors who rotate to southern commands, and contributes to Iran's resilience against American and Israeli pressure. Trump's statements, which have emphasised the destruction of 158 ships or similar figures in southern waters, accurately reflect successes in one theatre, but overlook how alliance with Russia and Chinese influence, and geography have preserved its Northern Fleet. It must be noted that with Western sanctions tightening access to global markets, the Caspian Sea route has enabled Russia and Iran to sustain logistical ties. A BROADER PICTURE OF THE IRANIAN NAVY US strikes have significantly degraded Iran's southern assets, including fast attack craft, missile sites, and port facilities. But navies are not monolithic. In the case of Iran, it shows that its maritime force was dispersed for domestic production. It is because Iran's navy operates under a dual structure. The conventional IRIN, which handles the Caspian Sea and Gulf of Oman, and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy (IRGCN), focussed on asymmetric warfare in the Persian Gulf. The Northern Fleet belongs to the IRIN and is a more traditional force compared to the IRGCN's swarm tactics and missile boats in southern waters. The Northern Fleet's survival appears to stem from Iran's decentralised and geographically dispersed approach to defence. Direct US engagement in the Caspian Sea would require navigating not only Iranian defences but also Russian responses and diplomatic fallout with other littoral states. As the conflict continues, the Caspian Sea's importance as a logistical lifeline and protected operating area is likely to grow. The Iranian Navy has been tested in the war, but its Caspian outpost remains an exception.