Commander: Iran to Send Flotilla of Warships to Italy

“A fleet of warships of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s Navy will be sent to Italy for a visit and interactions in the near future,” Rear Admiral Khanzadi said in a meeting with the deputy commander of the Italian navy on the sidelines of the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) in India.

The Italian military official, for his part, stressed his country’s full preparedness to host the Iranian flotilla, and said, “We are always trying to have cooperation and interaction with the world states’ navies and the Islamic Republic of Iran’s Navy as a powerful force in the sea is much important and influential to us.”

He underlined Rome’s willingness to develop interactions and ties with Iran in all fields.

Iran and Italy have tried to continue their friendly relations at a high level even during the sanctions era in the past and now. Both countries are striving to further expand ties.

In September 2016, an Italian warship, named ‘Euro’, berthed in Iran’s territorial waters in the Southern port city of Bandar Abbas.

The warship which docked in Iran’s first naval zone in the Persian Gulf was sent with the aim of expanding political, cultural and military ties between the two countries.

After berthing, commander of the Italian warship along with the country’s ambassador to Tehran and its embassy’s military attaché held a meeting with Commander of the Iranian Navy’s First Zone Rear Admiral Azad.

During their stay in Iran’s territorial waters, the commanders and officers of the Italian warship visited the country’s Naval capabilities and training centers and met with a number of Iranian officials in the Southern province of Hormozgan.

The Iranian and Italian navies also staged joint military exercises in Iran’s territorial waters.