Iran’s Navy provides security in region
Iran’s Navy commander says improving the naval capabilities of the Islamic Republic is aimed at establishing security in international waters.
“Improving the capabilities of [Iran’s] Armed Forces, particularly the Navy, is not a threat to anyone, and is aimed at establishing security in international waters and defending Iran’s interests,” Commander of Iran’s Navy Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari said on Tuesday.
“The Navy is ready to have close contact with all neighboring countries and hold joint drills in line with increasing the preparedness of regional naval forces,” Mehr News Agency quoted Sayyari as saying.
The Iranian commander said considering the “preparedness of the neighboring countries' naval forces, there is no need for the presence of trans-regional forces in the region as their presence causes challenges.”
Sayyari said defending Iran’s maritime borders, resources and interests and providing security for connecting routes were among the objectives of the Iranian Navy’s missions.
In 2010, Iran’s ninth flotilla along with two destroyers was dispatched to the Gulf of Aden with the objective of protecting Iranian commercial vessels against Somali pirates.
The tenth Iranian flotilla along with the Chiro and Lark destroyers has also been dispatched to the Gulf of Aden.
In line with international efforts against piracy, the Iranian Navy has been conducting anti-piracy patrols in the Gulf of Aden since November 2008 to safeguard maritime trade and in particular ships and oil tankers owned or leased by Iran.
The Gulf of Aden, which links the Indian Ocean with the Suez Canal and the Mediterranean Sea, is the quickest route for more than 20,000 vessels going from Asia to Europe and the Americas every year.
Source: presstv.ir
