TEHRAN -- Commander of the Islamic Republic of Iran Navy Rear Admiral Shahram Irani said Monday production of domestically-developed heavy battle cruisers as well as formation of naval task groups consisting of eleven vessels for overseas missions in international waters are among the top priorities of his force.
Addressing a meeting on naval missions held here, Irani stated that the Iranian navy has greatly developed its maritime capabilities, and its operational power is not confined to a specific region anymore as Iranian servicemen can sail through high seas in any part of the world.
“The fact that we can access anywhere in international waters proves that the strategic depth of our forces has increased dramatically. Our Navy as cited by the Leader of the Islamic Revolution [Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei] – the commander-in-chief of the Iranian armed forces, is a strategic force and is on the defensive end of the Islamic Republic of Iran Armed Forces,” he said.
Irani highlighted that the Iranian navy pays special attention to local elites, and employs the capacities of domestic knowledge-based companies.
The high-ranking Iranian military official went on to note that the production of homegrown heavy battle cruisers has been put on the agenda of the Navy in accordance with a road map outlined by Ayatollah Khamenei.
The Iranian navy has focused its activities on the 10th parallel north and the Red Sea, Irani said, adding that the Iranian navy units escort the country’s trade vessels and oil tankers in the Red Sea and the Strait of Hormuz.
Irani stated that formation of naval divisions carrying drones, development of reconnaissance vessels and electronic warfare warships, enhancement of battle capabilities, as well as renovation of the battle groups and promotion of their agility are on the agenda of the Iranian Navy.
Last month, the navy chief said the country’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 was elaborating 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, governments without a right will come and approach our territorial waters. However, owing to the authority and presence of our fleet in high seas and 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 orders us to do so,” Irani said, referring to Ayatollah Khamenei.

Top General Stresses Need for Regular Naval Drills

A high-ranking Iranian general emphasized the need for more frequent joint naval exercises with neighboring countries and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states.
Speaking at the same meeting, Major General Yahya Rahim Safavi, the top military adviser to Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei, hailed the navy as a strategic force.
The general said the defense ministry and the general staff of the Iranian armed forces should devise plans to promote naval diplomacy with the Caspian Sea neighbors.
It is also necessary to hold joint exercises with the SCO members and the Sultanate of Oman and to enhance relations with them, he added.
“We must recognize the strategy of future threats to the country and get prepared to counter future threats, which are possibly the sea-based and air-based hybrid wars,” General Safavi stated.
He also called on the navy to pay special attention to the employment of submarines, drones and satellites.
In April, Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Major General Muhammad Hussein Baqeri said all Iranian military forces are ready to give a decisive and crushing response to any threat at any level in such a way that the enemies of Iran would regret taking hostile action against the Islamic establishment.