TEHRAN -- Commander of Iran’s navy Rear Admiral Shahram Irani said Tuesday that two ships the force sent around Africa to Russia have returned.
This “most historic military event at sea was completed with authority and success by sending a combat fleet consisting of the Iranian destroyer Sahand and the ship Makran that was able to end its mission and return home,” he said.
This shows Iran’s navy can be present anywhere globally, he told a news conference, celebrating the success of the fleet. “Iran is the only country that provides for its own naval security.”
He detailed how the two ships made a historic journey to Russia and then returned, saying they sailed 45,000 km.
According to the commander, the flotilla began the mission by sailing to the northern Indian Ocean.
From there, it traveled all the way to the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa, he added. Turning around the cape in the Atlantic Ocean, the mission then sought its way to the Russian port city of in St. Petersburg.
The journey showed the self-confidence and capability of the Islamic Republic of Iran in the world arena, Irani said. “This fleet for those who never believed in the capability of the children of Iran, had the conclusion that today this is a capability they can believe in,” he said, adding that the fleet sailed near 55 countries and around three continents to send a message of peace and friendship to the world.
The naval units didn’t violate any countries and they returned to the country from the mission without finding itself in need of support from ports on its way, not even over technical matters, the commander said.
“We are proud that we were able
to show that sanctions and threats never work against Iranians and that we can build great barriers by relying on our own strength.”
This helps establish security for Iran’s economic needs, Irani stressed. “Today, we can be present in all the ocean zones of the world with authority whenever the order is issued.”
He also said the voyage is related to Iran’s ongoing work on indigenous propulsion system design, saying that Iran will now do more joint naval drills in the Gulf of Oman. These will likely be with Russia, China, among other countries.
Back in July, the Makran transited the Baltic Sea to Russia. The frigate Sahand also entered the Baltic sea at that time.
Iran has been making a lot of waves at sea recently. The Islamic Republic is currently sending fuel to Lebanon via the Suez Canal.