Iran’s Navy Boosts Defensive Capability with New Warships


Iran’s Navy Boosts Defensive Capability with New Warships

TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Commander of Iranian Navy Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari said on Saturday that addition of new warships, amphibious vessels and helicopters to the Navy will boost the defense capabilities of the force.

Lavan and Sirjan warships, plus a number of amphibious vessels and helicopters will be added to the country’s defense cycle as of next Saturday in Bandar Abbas (port), the navy commander told reporters today.

Also, the country will launch two missile frigates called the Neizeh (Arrow) and the Tabarzin (Axe) in Bushehr on December 1, Sayyari added.

He said that Iran believes the seas and oceans should be at the service of regional and international peace and friendship.

“In a gathering in Saint Petersburg, Russia, we invited the commanders of the regional and trans-regional countries to visit Iran. Such meetings and gatherings are aimed at ensuring security of the seas and we hope to achieve that objective,” Rear Admiral Sayyari said.

Commander of the Iranian Navy had also said on November 18 Iran believes regional security must be established through cooperation among countries within the region and that the presence of trans-regional forces in the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman leads to tension and disorder.

Iran has briefed the Arab littoral states of the Persian Gulf on common interests with them, and underlined that regional security must be established through cooperation among the regional countries, Sayyari said.

“The Persian Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz, the Sea of Oman and the northern part of the Indian Ocean along with all their interests and resources only belong to the regional countries,” he stressed.

“The presence of an alien force in the region leads to disarray, and can be regarded as a threat to all regional countries,” Sayyari said.

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

Since November 2008, the Iranian navy has conducted anti-piracy missions in the Gulf of Aden and Bab el-Mendeb strait to protect the country's cargo ships and oil tankers against pirates.

Under the terms of several UN Security Council resolutions, nations can deploy warships to the Gulf of Aden and coastal waters of Somalia to protect their merchantmen against the pirates and, after giving notice to Somali government, enter Somali territorial waters in pursuit of pirates.

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