Iran Allegedly Begins Sea Trials of Second Tanker Mothership
Open-source intelligence analyst Mehdi H., known on X as 'mhmiranusa' and known for his reporting on Iranian naval developments, reports that the Iranian Navy's new forward base ship—also referred to as a forward operating base ship—is set to begin sea trials.
'Iranian Navy will soon start sea trials of a new forward base ship named Kurdestan. This new base (442) like IRIS Makran (441) is a converted crude oil tanker previously named Tabukan (IMO: 8917467),' Mehdi H. said, adding, 'The conversion by ISOICO includes a helipad likely for helicopter & UAV ops.'
Iranian Navy will soon start sea trials of a new forward base ship named Kurdestan.This new base (442) like IRIS Makran (441) is a converted crude oil tanker previously named Tabukan (IMO: 8917467).The conversion by ISOICO includes a helipad likely for helicopter & UAV ops. pic.twitter.com/EqXqjRiuOv — Mehdi H. (@mhmiranusa) April 30, 2025
A separate OSINT account on X by the name of U.S. Homeland Security News commented on IRIS Makran (441), calling it an 'Iranian mothership' that 'provides intelligence and targeting information to the Houthi rebels in Yemen against US forces in the Red Sea.'
🚨Update: Iranian mothership is providing intelligence and targeting information to the Houthi rebels in Yemen against US forces in the Red Sea. Will the US target this warship?? US is doing the same for Ukraine against Russia. pic.twitter.com/B7vnyZbqPq — US Homeland Security News (@defense_civil25) May 4, 2025
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Also read: US 'Not Serious' About Nuclear Talks After Trump's Secondary Sanctions: Iran
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