Speaking at the 6th Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS), which kicked off in Tehran this morning with participation of 35 high-ranking military delegations from across the world, Iranian Army Navy Commander Rear Admiral Hossein Khanzadi said “maritime security is a collective and global issue that requires securing wealth chains and nations’ interests in the international waters.”
At the start of his speech, Khanzadi said “maritime security is the result of the coastal countries' attention to the seas around them, the marine environmental awareness, the formation of coalitions for collective security and the prevention of imposing undesirable security arrangements by others on the region.”
Meanwhile, the Army Navy commander added “a naval force in a reasonable size, proportional to geopolitical weight and the interests of countries, is one of the most important factors that can prevent insecurity,” adding that nations with appropriate naval forces have always been able brought security to their regions.
He warned against foreign intervention in the security arrangements of different regions, saying foreign intervention can harm the regional security as the foreign powers try to impose their own security arrangements on regions.
He added that cooperation to achieve sustainable technologies and develop marine equipment, as well as sharing information, increasing environmental awareness can bring collective security to maritime areas.
Welcoming the formation of the IONS through the efforts of India’s Navy 10 years ago as a great step towards more cooperation, he Iranian Army Navy commander called on the attendees to form the military wing of IONS for the sake of more collective security.
The ongoing Tehran Symposium is scheduled way for four days based on the IONS charter, during which five panels with different titles have been scheduled, followed by a secret meeting of commanders of IONS members, according to Khanzadi.
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