Iran begins designing first nuke submarine

Tehran, June 12 (ANI): Iran has started designing the country's first nuclear submarine, according to a report.

The state-media quoted the deputy navy chief in charge of technical affairs, Admiral Abbas Zamini, as saying that Iran has begun 'initial stages' of designing the nuclear-powered craft.

He stressed that Iran has developed 'peaceful nuclear technology' and has both the capability and the right to build a submarine, The Telegraph reports.

The move could further raise tensions between the Islamic country and West.

Western countries are at odds over Tehran's nuclear programme, and the US suspects it is aimed at developing weapons technology, a charge Iran denies.

Iran has domestically built several small submarines over the past years.

It has recently overhauled one of the three non-nuclear Russian Kilo-class submarines it bought in 1990s. (ANI)