Rear Admiral Sayyari described Iranian Navy’s mission as protecting and defending the country's maritime boundaries as well as national resources and interests in territorial waters, adding “since 2009 and upon the directive of Iran’s Leader saying the Navy is a strategic force, our mission zone and presence on high seas and international waters has expanded, in a way that we have so far dispatched 52 flotillas to high seas.”
He went on to add that the Iranian Navy has been also conducting patrols in the Gulf of Aden since November 2008 in order to safeguard merchant ships and oil tankers owned or leased by Iran or other countries against piracy.
“Sea diplomacy is needed so that the enemy will not assume that Iran is isolated,” said Sayyari, adding “our presence on high seas neutralizes the Iranophobia campaigns by displaying Iranian culture, science, and identity at various ports in the world.”
The Navy commander went on to add, “today, we are proud to say that the Iranian Navy receives all of its required modern equipment, destroyers and vessels from domestic manufacturing.”
Sayyari noted that the Navy has so far provided security to 4,000 merchant ships and oil tankers on high seas, adding “our presence on high seas is in accordance with the international law. We will not allow an ounce of insecurity in the zone under our patrol and will stand firm against anyone who seeks to cause insecurity.”
On Tuesday, Sayyari said up to 25 naval exercises have been planned to be staged by March 2018.
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