Maritime terrorism fearful of Iran’s power: Navy chief

Iran’s Navy chief, Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari, says pirates and maritime terrorists are horrified by the power of the Islamic Republic’s naval forces.

Sayyari said on Sunday that the Iranian naval forces are strongly present in the Middle East region and in high seas.

He added that Iranian naval forces have managed to safeguard the Islamic Republic’s resources and interests in high seas through their power and capabilities.

In recent years, Iran’s Navy has increased its presence in international waters to protect naval routes and provide security for merchant vessels and tankers.

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

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

Sayyari further said that the Iranian naval forces’ success to build equipment, destroyers and missile boats has proved that the country can rely on domestic capabilities.

Iran has made great achievements in the defense sector durIng recent years and has attained self-sufficiency in essential military equipment and systems.

The country has repeatedly assured other nations, especially its neighbors, that its military might poses no threat to other countries, insisting that its defense doctrine is based on deterrence.