Commander: Over 20 Foreign Countries’ Cargo Ships Escorted by Iranian Warships in Int’l Waters

“Around 3,000 trade ships and oil tankers have so far been escorted by the (Iranian) Navy’s fleets of warships in international waters,” Read Admiral Sayyari said, addressing the Tehran Friday prayers pre-sermon speech.

He underlined that the Iranian Navy has protected the ships of 22 foreign countries which enhances Iran’s status in the campaign against terrorism and also in restoration of international peace and security.

On Wednesday, a senior Iranian Navy commander announced that the Iranian naval forces have been deployed in different parts of the world and they enjoy absolute superiority in the region.

“At present, the Islamic Republic of Iran’s Navy has deployed forces from the Gulf of Aden to Northeastern Africa and Sumatra which shows its might,” Commander of the Iranian Navy’s Missile Program Rear Admiral Ali Vafadar said.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran’s Navy is the region’s first and superior power, a fact which has been admitted by military experts,” he added.

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 via the Suez Canal.

On Monday, Rear Admiral Sayyari announced that his forces are preparing to hold massive wargames in the Northern parts of the Indian Ocean in winter.

“The massive Velayat (94) drills will be staged in Northern Indian Ocean to the 10 degrees latitude,” Sayyari told reporters in Tehran.

He explained that the advanced equipment possessed by Iran makes it possible for the country to be in control in the Northern Indian Ocean to the 10 degrees latitude.

Also, on Sunday, Sayyari announced that his forces would hold several specialized wargames in the next 30 days.

“Several specialized drills, including missile, air and sea, submarine and special operations exercises, will be staged in the month of Azar (November 22-December 21); the massive Velayat wargames will also be held in winter,” Sayyari told reporters in Tehran on the threshold of the Navy Day in Iran (November 28).

He also referred to Iran’s presence in the international waters, and said despite certain countries’ efforts to prevent such deployment, the Navy will continue its presence in free waters, specially the Gulf of Aden.

In relevant remarks earlier this month, Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Navy Commander Rear Admiral Ali Fadavi also announced that his forces will hold massive wargames in the next two months.

“The IRGC Navy will hold massive drills before the end of autumn (will end December 21),” Rear Admiral Fadavi told reporters.

The Iranian Armed Forces have recently test-fired different types of newly-developed missiles and torpedoes and tested a large number of home-made weapons, tools and equipment, including submarines, military ships, artillery, choppers, aircrafts, UAVs and air defense and electronic systems, during massive military drills.

Defense analysts and military observers say that Iran’s wargames and its advancements in weapons production have proved as a deterrent factor.

Velayat wargames are the annual exercises conducted by the Iranian Army’s naval forces each year. Last year, the drills were conducted late December and were codenamed Velayat 93.

Different units, including surface, subsurface, air and airborne units, participated in the drills.