Baku, Azerbaijan, March 18
By Umid Niayesh - Trend:
Iranian navy commander says his country will hold joint rescue exercises with Oman.
"The three-day exercise is scheduled to be start on April 7," Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari was quoted by Iran's ISNA news agency on March 18.
Sayyari made the remarks during a visit to the exhibition of scientific and technological achievements of the Islamic Republic of Iran Navy in Imam Khomeini University of Naval Sciences in the Iranian northern city of Noshahr.
He also remarked that Iran plans to increase its presence in the international waters, saying that "Iranian Navy's 30th fleet of warships will be dispatched to international waters in the near future."
The fleet is scheduled to sail around Africa, the commander noted.
Sayyari had also said on Feb. 13 that the navy is enhancing the presence of its fleet in the international waters and high seas.
Speaking to the Tasnim News Agency in the city of Astara, north of Iran, Sayyari said international waters belong to all countries and "we will boost our presence in the high seas day after day."
This comes as Iran's fleet of warships entered the Atlantic Ocean for the first time last month. Iranian warships have been ordered to sail to U.S. maritime borders. The fleet including the helicopter carrier Kharg and the destroyer Sabalan, will steam some 25,000 nautical kilometers during the three month deployment with around 400 personnel, including 30 naval cadets.
On Feb. 8, the commander of Iran's Northern Navy Fleet, Admiral Afshin Rezayee Haddad said that "Iran's military fleet is approaching the United States' maritime borders, and this move has a message."