Iran Navy in North Indian Ocean vies with powerful counterparts

Tehran, Feb 2, IRNA – Navy Commander Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari said on Monday that Iran’s navy equipments in North Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Aden compete with powerful navies of other countries. “Powerful navies of other countries present in the North Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Aden have accepted Iran as a powerful navy in the region,” Commander Sayyari said in a meeting with armed forces and navy industries officials. The Navy of the Iranian Army and its related industries are two powerful arms of Iran’s naval authority. Praising remarkable achievements made by the experts of Iran’s Navy industries, Commander Sayyari said the two sections are equally assisting the Iran’s Islamic establishment. Referring to the Iranian Navy as a strategic force, Commander Sayyari said presence in international waters is important for the country. “Iran aims at having a constant presence in open seas,” he said. He added as it was instructed by the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, one of the major goals of the Iranian Navy is to expand its defense lines in international waters. The Leader has urged Iranian Navy to maintain the country’s authority in open waters. Commander Sayyari stressed that maintaining national interests of the country is key responsibility of its armed forces. He added presence of Iran’s Navy in the Gulf of Oman and North Indian Ocean is to prevent hegemonic powers from dominating other nations' resources by controlling their waterways. The commander referred to a powerful naval fleet, an active commercial shipping line and powerful navy industries as three sides of the triangle of the naval authority.