Naval Forces Proud of Their Participation in Epic of Sacred Defense: Navy Commander

Speaking in a pre-sermon speech at last week’s Friday prayers in Tehran, Mohtaj stated, "Today, the Navy proudly goes on the road toward self-confidence and self-sufficiency, which are memorials of Imam Khomeini, using the current scientific, industrial, and research capacities of the country and under the leadership of the Supreme Leader.

"The Navy of the Islamic Republic, coordinated and together with the Navy of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) and other armed forces of the Islamic Republic and supported by the powerful Air Force, strongly and proudly defends the security of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

"We have put the Islamic Republic of Iran's strength at the service of the peace and stability of the region and engage in constructive cooperation with our neighboring countries."

Mohtaj added, "We are proud that up to the last days of our war against Iraq, the enemy could not block Iran’s important maritime routes. Although many of our forces were martyred, they are honored in the presence of God. Many of the Navy martyrs still lie on the bottom of the Persian Gulf."

"We feel duty-bound to energetically continue the path of the martyrs in the fields of construction, reconstruction, production, and boosting our defensive strength against the enemy's aggression.

"The Seventh of Azar (November 28) reminds us of the honorable Morvarid naval operations of the Iranian Naval Forces against the Iraqi Naval Forces, which were demolished in these operations and from then on remained ineffective until the end of the war. In these operations, the Iranian Navy provided the north of the Persian Gulf with security, preventing shipping lines from being disrupted."

Mohtaj pointed out that the fact that Navy Day occurs during Basij Week reminds people of the days of Iranians' resistance against the Iraqi occupiers and the Iranian Navy's struggle to defend the borders of the Islamic country together with Basijis and the other armed forces.

He concluded by saying, "The Naval Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran feel honored to have been part of such a great epic, beside the Basijis, in the history of the Islamic Republic of Iran."

JH/HG

End

MNA