TEHRAN -- The Iranian Navy plans to deploy forces to international waters of over 2,000 kilometers away in order to maintain the Islamic Republic’s role in high seas.
Commander Rear Admiral Shahram Irani made the remarks during a ceremony to sign a memorandum of understanding on expansion of bilateral cooperation between the Iranian Navy and the Academic Center for Education, Culture, and Research.
The senior commander said Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has put special emphasis on the need for development of the Makran coast in southeast Iran.
“We pursue a vision for high seas. We plan to have a presence at waters over 2,000 kilometers away. That is why we must pay attention to the development of the shores,” he explained.
Irani also said his forces are the frontrunners among the Iranian armed forces in defending the country and its national interests.
Last month, he said Iran’s naval forces were roaming free waters of the world without any problem, adding that no foreign country would ever dare approach the Islamic Republic’s territorial waters.
Irani made the remarks in an interview with the Arabic-language Al-Alam television news network on April 21 as he elaborated on the latest developments and defense achievements of the country in addition to the Islamic Republic’s maritime capabilities.
“Nowadays, the northern Indian Ocean is a main waterway to connect the continents. If we do not have an effective presence there, governments without a right will come to the region and approach our territorial waters. However, owing to the authority and presence of our fleet in high seas and their constant monitoring, we do not have any problems and no country dares approach our country’s waters,” Irani said.
“The geometry of power in the world is changing ... and various players are at work,” the navy commander said.
“Given our capabilities, we can have an effective presence in all maritime environments of the world whenever the Commander-in-Chief [of the Iranian Armed Forces] orders us to do so,” Irani said, referring to Ayatollah Khamenei.