Iran's Navy to expand mission into Indian Ocean

PanARMENIAN.Net - Iran's Navy Commander Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari announced that the Navy plans to stretch its operational range in the Northern waters of the Indian Ocean, Fars News Agency reported.

Speaking to reporters after a meeting with Assistant Chief of Staff of Oman's Armed Forces Rashed Bin Seif Bin Al-Rashidi here in Tehran, Sayyari stressed the necessity for further interaction between Iran and the countries on the Northern rims of the Indian Ocean given the Navy's plan to increase its operational zone.

"Given the expansion of the operational zone of the Army's Navy in the Northern Indian Ocean and our plan for going to waters beyond the 10-degree latitude, we need to collaborate with the neighboring states, especially countries in the North of the Indian Ocean," Sayyari stated.

He pointed to the Navy's presence in international waters in North of the Indian Ocean, Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea, and stressed that maintaining such a naval presence demands cooperation with the neighboring states, Oman in particular, reminding that Muscat is among the ports where Iran's naval fleets dock to carry out their necessary tasks, like repair and maintenance.

The Iranian Navy has been conducting anti-piracy patrols in the Gulf of Aden since November 2008, when Somali raiders hijacked the Iranian-chartered cargo ship, MV Delight, off the coast of Yemen.