Iranian, Chinese navy to hold joint exercises

Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 22

By Umid Niayesh - Trend:

The Iranian and Chinese Navies are scheduled to hold joint exercises on Sept. 24.

Iran's Navy Commander Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari said that the exercises will focus on rescue operations and information exchange as well as testing operational capabilities and tactical coordination, Iran's Fars news agency reported Sept. 22.

The single-day exercises will be launched jointly with the two Chinese warships currently docked at the Iran's Bandar Abbas port, he said.

The mentioned Chinese warships have docked at the Iran's southern naval port for the first time in history.

Xinhua, the official Chinese news agency, reported that Chinese Navy ships involved in protecting shipping in the Gulf of Aden stopped at an Iranian port on Sept. 20 for a "friendly visit." One of the vessels was the Changchun, a guided-missile destroyer.

Early in May a senior Iranian delegation headed by the country's defense minister, Hossein Dehghan visited China and discussed military cooperation issues with Chinese officials.

The two sides stressed expansion of mutual military and security cooperation between the two countries.

China is believed to have helped Iran in various military fields including conduct training of high-level officials on advanced systems, provide technical support, supply steel for missile construction, provide control technology for missile development, build a missile factory and test range.

In recent years, Iran's Navy has been increasing its presence in international waters to protect naval routes and provide security for merchant vessels and tankers.

In line with international efforts to combat piracy, the Iranian Navy has also been conducting anti-piracy patrols in the Gulf of Aden since November 2008 to safeguard the vessels involved in maritime trade, especially the ships and oil tankers owned or leased by Iran.