TEHRAN -- Iranian Navy chief Rear Admiral Shahram Irani says the homegrown Damavand destroyer, outfitted with state-of-the-art equipment, will soon join the Navy’s fleet in the Caspian Sea north of the country.
The commander made the remarks on Saturday on the sidelines of the second day of the two-day military drills “Sustainable Security 1401” in the Caspian Sea.
“The Damavand destroyer has been built using the most recent equipment with the efforts of domestic experts and will soon join the northern fleet of the Navy in a special ceremony, he said.
He further explained that Damavand has been produced with the aim of safeguarding the country’s territorial integrity across the Caspian Sea.
The Navy chief also admired his forces’ technological advances in the Caspian Sea region, where, he said, the Islamic Republic produces many destroyers.
“The enemies should know that the era of illusions is over now, and the sacred establishment of the Islamic Republic of Iran has reached a high level of prosperity regarding its armed forces,” he said.
Commenting on the drills, Irani said if similar exercises are held jointly with friendly neighboring countries, the security level in the strategic sea “will increase significantly.”
Iran’s deputy Navy commander Rear Admiral Hamzeh Ali Kaviani said on Friday that the annual drills are being held at three levels of water, land, and air with the purpose of assessing the performance of systems and preparedness of the naval forces in the Caspian Sea.
He said various surface and airborne units of the Navy, including ship-based missile launchers, helicopters, and sea-based drones and electronic warfare systems, as well as marine and ranger units of the Navy are participating in the maritime exercise.
Describing the Caspian Sea as the sea of peace and friendship for the neighboring countries, Kaviani said, “We will not allow anyone to disrupt order and security of this sea.”
The Islamic Republic’s military doctrine holds that the country’s armed capability solely serves defensive purposes and poses no threat to other states.
On Thursday, commander of the Iranian Army’s Ground Force Brigadier General Kioumars Heydari said his force has been supplied with various types of precision strike, smart as well as well as long-range munitions as it defends the country’s stability and territorial integrity.
Heydari made the remarks as he inspected a unit of the Army’s Ground Force in the Marivan city of the western Iranian province of Kordestan.
He described the defense and military achievements of the force as a “thorn in the side of the sworn enemies” of Iran.
The commander hailed the preparedness and high morale of his forces, stressing they have been making efforts “day and night” in order to safeguard the country.
Iran Army Ground Force soldiers “have mobilized all their power and capabilities to ensure the nation’s stability and peace, and will spare no effort in this regard”, he said.
Moreover, the commander of the Iranian Army’s Air Force said the world’s sophisticated military equipment and weapons are now mounted on the chopper fleet of his force.
Brigadier General Yousef Qorbani said the force has dramatically changed the range of weapons in its possession as well as battle tactics, and that munitions fitted in the

“A year and half ago, speaking at the Davos forum, I once again emphasized that the era of the unipolar world order is over…. despite all of the attempts to save it, to preserve it by any means possible. When they won the Cold War, the US declared themselves God’s own representatives on earth, people who have no responsibilities — only interests. They seemingly have not noticed that new power centers have arisen and are getting louder and louder,” he said.
Iran has already signed long-term strategic partnership agreements with China and Venezuela, while also working on a draft agreement with Russia.
More recently, on June 11, Tehran inked a long-term deal with Caracas during Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro’s visit to Iran.
The partnership agreement includes cooperation in the fields of science, technology, agriculture, oil and gas, petrochemicals, tourism as well as culture.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran has always sought relations with independent countries in its foreign policy, and Venezuela has resisted the sanctions of the enemies and imperialism and has shown exemplary resistance,” Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi said in the signing ceremony.
Iran also signed a 25-year strategic partnership agreement with China and began its implementation in January. The pact is meant to strengthen the long-standing economic and political alliance between Iran and China and is viewed as a milestone in their bilateral relations.