Iran Navy to reinforce presence in open seas in new calendar year: Iranian commander

TEHRAN, March 11 (MNA) – Iran plans to increase its naval presence on the open seas in the new Iranian calendar year 1391, which starts on March 20, in order to safeguard the country’s interests, the Navy commander said. “We are not in the habit of launching invasion, making aggression against, and clashing with others, but because the open seas belong to all the world’s countries and according to international laws and regulations all countries are allowed to be present in the open seas … we should have an expansive presence in the open seas,” Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari told reporters on Saturday. Pointing to Iranian naval fleets which have successfully carried out their missions in the Sea of Oman, the Red Sea, the north of the Indian Ocean, and the Mediterranean Sea, he said that the Navy will continue its strong presence in the international waters and open seas. Elsewhere in his remarks, the Navy commander said that Iran is capable of building aircraft carriers. “Considering the capabilities of the committed and skilled youth in the Navy, the Defense Industries Organization, and the country’s universities, the Islamic Republic is capable of building aircraft carriers, but we do not feel any need in this regard,” he said. He added that the new domestically designed destroyer, named the Velayat, is in the last stages of the production process. Sayyari also said that Iran has sent warships to the north of the Indian Ocean, the Red Sea, and the Gulf of Aden to counter pirate attacks. “Currently, the Islamic Republic’s 18th fleet and its different destroyers have been deployed in the open seas to counter attacks by pirates,” he said.