ID :
194857
Wed, 07/13/2011 - 14:58
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/194857
The shortlink copeid
Minister Hails Iran's Naval Presence in Red Sea as "Great Move"
TEHRAN (FNA)- Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Ahmad Vahidi underlined the vital importance of the Red Sea for Iran's security, and described the country's naval presence in the sea as a significant step in building Iran's security structure in the region.
"The Islamic Republic of Iran took a major step through its presence in the Red Sea because that is our first step in building a security regime in the region," Vahidi said, addressing the closing ceremony of the first Conference on Strategic Naval Force in the Iranian capital Tehran on Wednesday.
He further described the Red Sea as "part of Iran's environmental security", and said that Iran attaches much importance to its naval presence in the Red Sea, the Indian Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea.
Meantime, the minister warned that the US is trying to spark differences among the regional states in an effort to prevent establishment of an indigenous security system in the region.
Vahidi also said that Washington has not been able to create a stable and durable security system in the Persian Gulf and it, thus, cannot keep its vessels in the regional waters forever.
Early in July, Iran's Yunes submarine, sailing alongside warships of the 14th fleet of the Iranian Navy, returned home following an almost two-month-long mission in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
The deployment of the Iranian military submarine in the Red Sea was the first such operation by the country's Navy in far-off waters.
Iran has also deployed warships in the Red Sea to combat Somali pirates.
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.
According to UN Security Council resolutions, different countries can send their warships to the Gulf of Aden and coastal waters of Somalia against the pirates and even with prior notice to Somali government enter the territorial waters of that country in pursuit of Somali sea pirates.
The Gulf of Aden - which links the Indian Ocean with the Suez Canal and the Mediterranean Sea - is an important energy corridor, particularly because Persian Gulf oil is shipped to the West via the Suez Canal.
"The Islamic Republic of Iran took a major step through its presence in the Red Sea because that is our first step in building a security regime in the region," Vahidi said, addressing the closing ceremony of the first Conference on Strategic Naval Force in the Iranian capital Tehran on Wednesday.
He further described the Red Sea as "part of Iran's environmental security", and said that Iran attaches much importance to its naval presence in the Red Sea, the Indian Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea.
Meantime, the minister warned that the US is trying to spark differences among the regional states in an effort to prevent establishment of an indigenous security system in the region.
Vahidi also said that Washington has not been able to create a stable and durable security system in the Persian Gulf and it, thus, cannot keep its vessels in the regional waters forever.
Early in July, Iran's Yunes submarine, sailing alongside warships of the 14th fleet of the Iranian Navy, returned home following an almost two-month-long mission in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
The deployment of the Iranian military submarine in the Red Sea was the first such operation by the country's Navy in far-off waters.
Iran has also deployed warships in the Red Sea to combat Somali pirates.
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.
According to UN Security Council resolutions, different countries can send their warships to the Gulf of Aden and coastal waters of Somalia against the pirates and even with prior notice to Somali government enter the territorial waters of that country in pursuit of Somali sea pirates.
The Gulf of Aden - which links the Indian Ocean with the Suez Canal and the Mediterranean Sea - is an important energy corridor, particularly because Persian Gulf oil is shipped to the West via the Suez Canal.
