US Reveals Nuclear Submarine’s Gibraltar Port Call as Trump Signals Iran Strikes Could Resume

The US military said one of its nuclear-powered submarines had arrived in Gibraltar, a British overseas territory, drawing added attention because the disclosure came just after President Donald Trump blasted Iran’s revised ceasefire proposal as “garbage.”

The US Navy’s Sixth Fleet, which oversees Europe and Africa, said in a statement on May 11 that an Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine arrived the previous day in Gibraltar, off Spain’s southern coast. The fleet also released a photo of the submarine, saying the port call showed US capability, flexibility and its commitment to NATO allies.

The US military did not identify the submarine by name. Based on foreign media reports, it is believed to be the USS Alaska (SSBN-732), one of 14 Ohio-class submarines. The Alaska is a strategic submarine armed with nuclear missiles and is nicknamed a “boomer.” It is 171 meters long, has a submerged displacement of about 18,750 tons, and can carry as many as 24 submarine-launched ballistic missiles, or SLBMs.

It can operate in deep water for months without surfacing. Its extremely low noise levels make it very difficult for adversaries to detect.

The location of a US nuclear submarine is itself a state secret. Such disclosures are rare and generally made only to demonstrate strategic deterrence. The Sixth Fleet’s decision to announce the submarine’s location in a formal statement has fueled speculation that the move was intended as a pressure message to Iran.

The Alaska carries Trident II D5 missiles that can be fitted with nuclear warheads. The missile uses multiple-warhead technology that allows several nuclear warheads to be mounted on a single missile. Its maximum range is about 7,600 kilometers when carrying eight warheads. Under a minimum-payload configuration, that extends to as much as 12,000 kilometers.

The straight-line distance from Gibraltar to Iran is about 5,000 kilometers. That would put all of Iran within strike range.

Trump said a day earlier that he found Iran’s revised ceasefire proposal unacceptable. According to US government officials, he is leaning toward resuming military action to pressure Tehran and extract concessions on its nuclear program.

Options under review include restarting Project Freedom, a ship escort operation in the Strait of Hormuz that was halted last week, or resuming bombing of the remaining 25% of targets inside Iran that have not yet been struck.

Axios reported that any military action would more likely come after Trump’s trip to China scheduled for this week. The report said Trump is expected to meet President Xi Jinping and discuss Iran as a major agenda item.

Park Su-bin, Hankyung.com reporter waterbean@hankyung.com