Iran, Russia To Hold Joint Naval Drill In Caspian Sea

Tehran, Oct 15, IRNA – Commander of Iran's Navy Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari said Iran and Russia are to carry out a joint military exercise in the Caspian Sea waters Wednesday afternoon. A flotilla of Russian warships has recently berthed in the Caspian Sea port of Anzali in northern Iran with a message of "peace and friendship." The visit to Iran of the Russian warships were aimed at preparing the grounds for further cooperation between naval forces of the two countries. According to the RussianTass News Agency, the ships, belonged to Russia’s Caspian Flotilla - the Dagestan guard ship and the Grad Sviyazhsk small missile ship - left the port of Makhachkala on October 1st. Upon its arrival in Iran's Anzali port, the fleet was welcomed by Iranian officials. The Russian warships will leave Iran's territorial waters at the end of the military exercise, Commander Sayyari said. According to earlier reports, the fleet will leave the Iranian port for Azerbaijan on Oct. 15. The Russian ships will visit the ports of Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan and will conduct joint exercises with Kazakhstan’s naval forces. The Russian flotilla is on a 20-day trip aimed at developing and strengthening international cooperation among the Caspian Sea littoral states./end