Iran's navy to continue presence in international waters - commander
Islamic Republic of Iran's Navy (IRIN) would continue its
presence in international waters, Navy Commander Rear Admiral
Habibollah Sayyari said on Thursday, Trend news agency
reported.
He made the remarks in an interview with IRNA news agency in Iran's
southern port city of Bandar Abbas on Thursday.
"Several countries are present in the international waters and
IRIN's presence there which aims to provide security of trade ships
and oil tankers proves its capabilities; the world has accepted the
power of IRIN and its scientific progress in construction of new
marine equipments."
The Iranian Navy has been conducting anti-piracy patrols in the
Gulf of Aden since November 2008, when Somali raiders hijacked the
Iranian-chartered cargo ship, MV Delight, off the coast of
Yemen.
According to UN Security Council resolutions, different countries
can send their warships to the Gulf of Aden and coastal waters of
Somalia against the pirates and even with prior notice to Somali
government enter the territorial waters of that country in pursuit
of Somali sea pirates.
The Gulf of Aden - which links the Indian Ocean with the Suez Canal
and the Mediterranean Sea - is an important energy corridor,
particularly because Persian Gulf oil is shipped to the West
through the Suez Canal.
In November, Iran boosted its naval power in the Persian Gulf
waters after a new missile launching vessel and two light
submarines joined its Navy fleet.
The Sina-7 missile-launching frigate was launched in a ceremony in
Bandar Abbas on the occasion of the National Day of Navy.
During the ceremony attended by Sayyari, two Qadir-class light
submarines also joined the Iranian naval fleet.
All parts of the Qadir-class submarines, including the hull, radar
equipment and advanced defense systems, have been made
domestically.
The submarines are appropriate vessels for different naval
missions, including reconnaissance and combat in territorial
waters, especially in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz
which are not wide enough for the maneuvering of large warships and
submarines.