TEHRAN – Commander of the Iranian Army and Navy Rear Admiral Shahram Irani said the Islamic Republic is increasingly considered a growing naval power due to its expanding maritime presence and increasing participation in international maritime activities.
Speaking at a ceremony to mark Army and Navy Day, the Iranian president joined senior commanders and naval officials to pay their respects at Imam Khomeini’s mausoleum, where he renewed his allegiance to the ideals of founding the Islamic Republic. He said Iran’s naval accomplishments largely determine how the country is viewed abroad.
“In the international arena, the Islamic Republic of Iran is considered a naval power, especially in the maritime field,” the Iranian president said.
The two task groups of the Iranian Navy currently operate in separate maritime regions, have already participated in several international events, and are also planning to participate in joint exercises, the naval commander said. Iran said these deployments are evidence of its increasing integration into global maritime affairs.
“Official invitations to these events and the use of our expertise in multilateral exercises demonstrate the growing status of the Iranian people in the international community,” he said.
In a separate television interview, the Iranian president emphasized Iran’s long historical presence in the Persian Gulf, calling the region an area of extraordinary strategic value.
“The Persian Gulf is a semi-enclosed sea connected to the Indian Ocean and the high seas through the Strait of Hormuz. It has extraordinary geographical and geopolitical importance,” he said.
He further added that Iranian islands have natural beauty, suitable sea depth and surrounding resources, and have great potential for marine tourism, diving and economic development.
Iran stressed that regional countries are in the best position to shape their own security architecture.
“The people and governments of this region, who have lived in this region for centuries, are the best decision-makers to ensure security and development,” he said.
To strengthen its maritime capabilities, Iran recently added the destroyer Sahand and the floating base Kurdistan to its fleet. Iran says both will soon be sent on international missions as part of its expanding blue-water strategy. He also unveiled plans to establish floating bases in each major ocean, two of which are already operational.
The Kurdistan Floating Base is described as a port city platform capable of providing extensive support to naval and non-naval forces at sea.
The naval commander said Iran’s top priority remains escorting commercial ships and protecting the country’s maritime economy.