IranWest Asia

Iran has ‘a lot to say’ on battlefield, will give ‘crushing’ response to threats, says Navy chief

Iran’s Navy Commander Rear Admiral Shahram Irani says the Islamic Republic has “a lot to say” on the battlefield and will definitely give a crushing response to any disrespectful behavior toward the nation.

Irani made the remarks on Sunday on the sidelines of the Iranian Army’s large-scale military exercises, codenamed Zolfaqar-1400, which kicked off earlier in the day with the participation of airborne units, special forces, and rapid reaction brigades.

“We convey this message to all that whenever Iranians are spoken to with respect, [they] will certainly respond respectfully as well,” the commander said, adding that the Iranian nation will give a decisive response otherwise.

He noted that improving coordination among the Iranian Armed Forces and transferring the technical know-how to the young military forces are among the main objectives of the joint drills.

He said displaying the enormous capabilities of the armed forces, particularly the strategic Naval Force of the Iranian Army, in safeguarding the country’s interests and familiarizing young forces with real-life battlefields are among the other goals of the military exercises.

The Iranian Army started massive military exercises in an area stretching from the eastern sector of the strategic Strait of Hormuz to the northern tip of the Indian Ocean and parts of the Red Sea on Sunday.

Rear Admiral Mahmoud Mousavi, spokesman for the Zolfaqar-1400joint drills, said troops serving in the Army’s infantry and armored units, mechanized regiments, air defense units, naval units, and Air Force have taken part in the main stage of the exercise.

‘Economic lifeline fully secured by naval forces’

The senior military figure highlighted that marine and commando units of the Iranian Army and its Navy carried out airborne, heliborne, and amphibious exercises, launched surprise attacks, and stroke predetermined mock enemy targets.

Elsewhere in his remarks, Irani pointed to the mission of the Iranian Navy’s various fleets in the fight against terrorism, piracy, and escorting merchant ships and oil tankers, saying the naval forces have “fully secured the country’s economic lifeline by escorting vessels and tankers as well as merchant ships.”

Earlier this month, the Iranian naval forces managed to thwart a pirate attack on one of the country’s oil tankers en route to the Gulf of Aden before entering Bab el-Mandeb Strait.

The Iranian Navy said four boats carrying between 4 to 6 pirates sought to launch an attack on the Iranian tanker earlier in the morning but they were forced to escape following a timely action by the Navy’s escort teams, which shot warning shots to repel the pirates.

In line with international efforts against piracy, the Iranian Navy has been conducting patrols in the Gulf of Aden since November 2008, safeguarding merchant containers and oil tankers owned or leased by Iran or other countries.

Iran’s Navy has managed to foil several attacks on both Iranian and foreign tankers during its missions in international waters.

Iran’s Navy Commander Rear Admiral Shahram Irani says the Islamic Republic has “a lot to say” on the battlefield and will definitely give a crushing response to any disrespectful behavior toward the nation.

Irani made the remarks on Sunday on the sidelines of the Iranian Army’s large-scale military exercises, codenamed Zolfaqar-1400, which kicked off earlier in the day with the participation of airborne units, special forces, and rapid reaction brigades.

“We convey this message to all that whenever Iranians are spoken to with respect, [they] will certainly respond respectfully as well,” the commander said, adding that the Iranian nation will give a decisive response otherwise.

He noted that improving coordination among the Iranian Armed Forces and transferring the technical know-how to the young military forces are among the main objectives of the joint drills.

He said displaying the enormous capabilities of the armed forces, particularly the strategic Naval Force of the Iranian Army, in safeguarding the country’s interests and familiarizing young forces with real-life battlefields are among the other goals of the military exercises.

The Iranian Army started massive military exercises in an area stretching from the eastern sector of the strategic Strait of Hormuz to the northern tip of the Indian Ocean and parts of the Red Sea on Sunday.

Rear Admiral Mahmoud Mousavi, spokesman for the Zolfaqar-1400joint drills, said troops serving in the Army’s infantry and armored units, mechanized regiments, air defense units, naval units, and Air Force have taken part in the main stage of the exercise.

‘Economic lifeline fully secured by naval forces’

The senior military figure highlighted that marine and commando units of the Iranian Army and its Navy carried out airborne, heliborne, and amphibious exercises, launched surprise attacks, and stroke predetermined mock enemy targets.

Elsewhere in his remarks, Irani pointed to the mission of the Iranian Navy’s various fleets in the fight against terrorism, piracy, and escorting merchant ships and oil tankers, saying the naval forces have “fully secured the country’s economic lifeline by escorting vessels and tankers as well as merchant ships.”

Earlier this month, the Iranian naval forces managed to thwart a pirate attack on one of the country’s oil tankers en route to the Gulf of Aden before entering Bab el-Mandeb Strait

The Iranian Navy said four boats carrying between 4 to 6 pirates sought to launch an attack on the Iranian tanker earlier in the morning but they were forced to escape following a timely action by the Navy’s escort teams, which shot warning shots to repel the pirates.

In line with international efforts against piracy, the Iranian Navy has been conducting patrols in the Gulf of Aden since November 2008, safeguarding merchant containers and oil tankers owned or leased by Iran or other countries.

Iran’s Navy has managed to foil several attacks on both Iranian and foreign tankers during its missions in international waters.


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