Iran’s Killer Dolphins

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It seems as though the United States’ attack on Iranian General, Qassem Soleimani, played out to be a success according to American leadership. Since Soleimani was struck dead by an American drone strike, tensions between the two nations have grown and now the United States is on high alert, keeping their eyes open against any form of Iranian retaliation.

The forms of retaliation that the United States is likely prepared for is most likely missile strikes, cyber attacks, intelligence gathering, or some form of proxy terrorism, to name a few. However, one method of retaliation may exist that nobody can see coming and that is Iran’s fleet of military dolphins, that may or may not still exist today.

Over twenty years ago a Russian man named Boris Zhurid would be responsible for training swimming mammals for the Soviet Navy. Zhurid, as well as a few other experts, would train mammals to target enemy divers, capture them, and carry explosives towards enemy ships in a suicide attack, according to Popularmechanics.com.

Eventually, funding ran out for Zhurid’s program and the Ukranian Navy adopted the program. Soon enough, Zhurid was forced to have his animals perform for tourists in order for him to be able to afford feeding and taking care of them.

Eventually, Zhurid wasn’t able to afford the animals anymore and was forced to sell them. “I cannot bare to see my animals starve,” he said. “We’re out of medicine… and have no more fish or food supplements.”

In the spring of 2000 Zhuris sold his dolphin collection, as well as several walruses, sea lions, seals, and a beluga whale, to Iran. Dolphins tend to have a lifespan of at least 50 years, so it is still very likely that Iran is still utilizing those dolphins up until today.

20 years later and we haven’t heard much about the Soviet dolphins in Iran. It is very possible that the Persian nation is using them for reconnaissance missions. Deploying live mammals on the battlefield is nothing new. Russia abandoned its military dolphin program only in 2014, even though a Norwegian fisherman has spotted a beluga whale wearing a Russian harness in 2016.

The United States practically invented the concept of militarizing dolphins and other sea mammals. In the 60s, the United States researched dolphins’ and beluga whales’ swimming and sonar capability to see how they can support the military. Eventually, the United States Navy trained the sea mammals to transport gear to divers, search for lost objects, mark underwater mines, and spy on enemies with special cameras. Dolphins have served for the United States during the Vietnam and the Persian Gulf War. Currently, the United States Navy trains about 30 dolphins and 30 sea lions to track sea mines. 

The question now is if the Iranian’s dolphins are still alive, is the Persian country using them? And if so, then how?