Islamic Republic of Iran free to sail international waters
Iranian Navy Commander Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari says Iran will seeks to increase presence in international waters is in accordance with international law.
International waters belong to all countries and Iran’s naval presence in the waters is in compliance with the international law, said Sayyari on Monday.
The commander pointed to the Iranian Navy’s three-year presence in international waters and said that Iran’s 16th fleet of warships is currently present in the Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Aden, IRNA reported.
On October 9, the fleet of warships, which includes the domestically-built Jamaran destroyer and the Bandar Abbas frigate, left for the Gulf of Aden in line with efforts to provide security for Iranian trade vessels in the pirate-infested area.
Sayyari emphasized that as stated by the commander-in-chief, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, Iran has no intention of carrying out acts of aggression against any country and Iranian naval presence in international waters displays the might of the nation.
He highlighted the significance of Iran’s naval presence to provide food, energy and sea trade security and said it would prepare the grounds for the country’s development.
The Iranian commander questioned US presence in the region and stressed that regional countries are fully capable of establishing regional security.
Sayyari’s remarks came as Iran’s domestically-manufactured Jamaran destroyer docked at Oman’s port of Salalah on Monday.
According to Iranian Navy Deputy Commander Rear Admiral Seyyed Mahmoud Mousavi, Jamaran, which is currently on its first international mission, will patrol the Gulf of Aden, the Red Sea and north of the Indian Ocean and safeguard the country’s interests.
Jamaran destroyer has been completely manufactured by Iranian experts. Iran launched a self-sufficiency campaign in the defense industry after the victory of the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
The Iranian Navy launched its first domestically-manufactured destroyer, Jamaran, in the waters of the Persian Gulf in February, 2010. The 1,420-ton destroyer is equipped with modern radars and electronic warfare capabilities.
It has a top speed of up to 30 knots and has a helipad. It also features highly advanced anti-aircraft, anti-surface and anti-subsurface systems. The vessel has also been equipped with torpedoes and modern naval cannons.
