Iran lauds firing of Noor missile from Sabalan, frigate damaged in Operating Praying Mantis

Iran’s IRGC-affiliated Fars News has published an article lauding the Iranian Navy for test-firing its Noor long-range anti-ship cruise missile from the deck of the frigate Sabalan during the recent Velayat-91 naval war-games.

In an article that combines tough talk about Iran’s naval capabilities, its self-sufficiency in developing its military despite sanctions, US aggression and Iran’s asymmetric warfare strategy, Fars  describes how the IRI Navy rebuilt the Sabalan after it was damaged in the 1988 Operation Praying Mantis.

US naval forces launched Operation Praying Mantis in Iranian territorial waters on April 18, 1988, as a retaliation for Iran’s mining the Persian Gulf during the Iran–Iraq war, an action which damaged a US warship.

Fars includes an interview with IRI Navy’s Rear Admiral Amir Rastegari, who describes the incident and how the Sabelan was repaired. The ship is now part of the IRI Navy’s collection of historic technical achievements, the report says.