Navy commander: Many countries demand Iran’s naval expertise

Iran’s Navy Commander Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari says many of the world countries seek to acquire the operational expertise of the Islamic Republic’s naval forces.

“Many of the countries and regions seek to acquire our operational experiences and if we claim that we can maintain the regional security, it has been proven in practice,” said General Sayyari in the southern city of Sirjan on Tuesday.

The Navy commander pointed to Iran’s success to domestically equip and overhaul the super-heavy Tareq submarine in the face of the embargoes and pressures imposed against the country, and said, “The more time passes, Iran’s might becomes apparent in all aspects.”

Sayyari noted that the technical and state-of-the-art trainings provided in Iran’s Navy have enabled the country’s naval forces to vigorously defend the interests and resources of the Islamic Republic at any location.

He went on to say that Tehran’s stance on nuclear technology, regional independence and maritime security has turned Iran’s naval forces into an effective regional player.

In recent years, Iran has made great achievements in the defense sector and gained self-sufficiency in producing essential military hardware and defense systems.

Meanwhile, Iran’s Navy has been multiplying its naval presence in the international waters since last year, deploying vessels to the Indian Ocean and dispatching two ships via the Suez Canal to the Mediterranean for the first time in February 2011.

In addition, in line with the international efforts to combat piracy, the Iranian Navy has been conducting anti-piracy patrols in the Gulf of Aden since November 2008 to safeguard the vessels involved in maritime trade, especially the ships and oil tankers owned or leased by Iran.