Point is Iran doesn't intend yet to project power on other side planet,and that is what any carrier is for...it is offensive asset.And thus if Iran intend to build carrier for future, will not start building carrier before build enough destroyers,frigates,corvettes,training ships and submarines,these ships are needed to be carrier protection...Carrier is capital vessel served by 1000 or more sailors...loosing such capital vessel is not just huge lost of lives and economic disaster,it has huge impact on moral and motivation on whole military..even country in time of war.What would Iran do with helicopter carrier now if have it? If you send it to cruise than almost all your capital ships and submarines had to follows it as protection... To be exact,at least 2 destroyers...Jamaran is equipped for anti-submarine & air defense and it is fast and maneuverable to fill this role as it is Sahand but those are only two vessels in Iran navy capable to fill destroyer role ..so nothing would left except 2-3 frigates....it would require also to send 1-2 Kilo class submarines,one or two support vessel and at least one fregate and corvette or 2 frigates... Iran navy is large,I think world 7th largest, but it doesn't have many blue water capital ships and considering threat in P.Gulf it can't send all main assets....on other hand such group would not be huge threat for US...and all places where it would make sense to send fleet with carrier,like red sea,Mediterranean sea or close to US is where US navy would be enemy. On other hand If you invest billions and build carrier and keep it around your shores it wouldn't make any sense....except prestige.. Iran navy combat operation are Oman sea,Indian ocean,Red Sea....It sail worldwide but combat radius is not worldwide.I read about plans to expand combat radius and naval operation,Iran would at some point think about carrier but only after build Navy properly in roles frigate,destroyer,training vessels and corvettes....than you have foundation to expand naval operative range.Large carriers in defensive role are,when it comes to costal defense,useless because by default to fight US navy for example,you have to position navy close to shore in shallow water(and narrow if possible).I understand some logic conclusion that helicopter carrier would allow Iran to deploy larger force to red sea or Mediterranean for example but without powerful fleet to protect it...it is floating disaster...There is reason,why Iran is building ships in this size...first,destroyers, even frigates must be fast and maneuverable.. expecually destroyers because by default destroyers are first line against submarines and also fleet muscle but this primary means fast and maneuverable thus must be antisubmarine capable... Size is not important I'm terms of classification ...you can built large destroyers if you can keep them fast and maneuverable but if not than you will build smaller and just add more in fleet to have same fire power as would with larger destroyers in smaller number...also you can add more frigates and build destroyers more focused on antisubmarine role....In any way,Iran even build large commercial ships when it comes to military it is limited in terms of engines capable to keep larger speed fast...But as I see things are getting better...I just read Damavand is ready to rejoin fleet in Caspian sea,which surprise me...I taught it will take longer to repair it,since it completely sunk..but I suppose there were a lot of parts usable, I think larger part of structure was available to reuse,also engines can be repaired but still fast...Also I hear Shiraz and Dena were almost finished ,after Shiraz and Dena join Navy I expect Iran to start construction of 3-4 larger ships and after that I suppose they will have good foundations to seek some smaller VSTOL/Helicopter carrier, at that time there will be more submarines...2 Fateh class can replace 1-2 Kilo class role in Indian ocean and join this imaginary fleet
we talk about,along with 2 destroyers,2 frigates, or 1 frigate and 1 corvette and 1-2 logistic ships...This would be respectable fleet capable to protect itself on open sea...I suppose this is in line with Iran plan to have port or part of port in Syria where it could deploy one such group..but that requires many other things before...and I actually sea very clear intention from Iran to deploy navy in Mediterranean,Syria and Lebanon are strategic Allies and that is why Israel is screaming.. They were sure ,their meddling in Syria will result with government which will expel Iran,brake land line P.Gulf - Mediterranean, sign truce with puppet Syrian government where Golan would be their legally and than they could fokus on Hezbollah that would have one supporter less thus without main supply line. But Israel end up with worst scenario ever...it now has Syrian army as enemy with 8 year war experience (believe me this huge,combat experience can't be compensate with training)... Also Hezbollah and Iran rotated intentionally as much as they could troops to get combat experienced troops,now Iran has support more than ever in Syria and Iraq,PMU is integrated in regular Iraq army..Iran will also embedded troops in Syria and will have port on Mediterranean... Iranian troops on Israel border ,and these troops are connected by land with Iraq PMU and Iran...If you look from military perspective, this is disaster for Israel...they can be overrun in days from Syria,Lebanon,Gaza...at first sign of Israel blood...I can bet people of Jordan and Egypt(even if their government refuse)would join...With such shallow territory Israel doesn't space to maneuver, regroup... etc..for them 1 battle lost mean it is done