Commander of the Islamic Republic of Iran Navy Rear Admiral Shahram Irani says 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 in the capital Tehran on Monday, 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 pointed out.
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,
the commander 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 [to the region]
and approach our territorial waters.
However, owing to the authority and presence of our fleet in high seas and [their] 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 [of the Iranian Armed Forces] orders us to
do so,” Irani said, referring to Ayatollah Khamenei.
He added, however, that there is no problem if extra-regional countries come to the region
in order to visit and exchange knowledge.
“But if they want to enter the field of security, we must say that today the Islamic
Republic of Iran does not accept such a thing,” he cautioned.
Iranian commanders have repeatedly warned against the presence of hostile, extra-regional
navies in the region, asserting that neither the region nor the countries that host them
would become more secure by their presence.
Elsewhere in his remarks, Rear Admiral Irani pointed to the latest maritime drills held
by the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS), saying the Iranian Navy’s fully-homegrown
destroyer Dena had a powerful presence in the exercise.
He said the operational capability of the Iranian Navy was assessed during the exercise.
“Our goal was to prove ourselves and our country’s defense capability and to introduce
the humanitarian culture of the Iranians and the ... Islamic Republic establishment to
the world,” Irani said.
He explained that providing humanitarian aid was part of the exercise, adding, “We want
to tell neighboring countries to be sure that the establishment of security in [regional
waters], especially in the northern region of the Indian Ocean, can be done by ourselves,
and we just need to get closer to each other and our hearts should come together.”
The IONS drills kicked off on March 29 off the Indian port city of Goa.
The biennial drills featured 24 Indian Ocean littoral states.
According to Captain Farhad Fattahi, commander of the Iranian team, the country’s navy
joined the event with the aim of partaking in training cooperation and exchanging experiences
in the field of maritime practices.