Rear Admiral Shahram Irani, commander of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s Navy, warned in a speech Sunday morning that adversaries seek to create division and destroy unity within Iranian society in order to advance broader strategic goals.
Touching on Iran’s maritime economy and the role of its navy, he said that escort missions for Iranian vessels are consistently and strongly carried out on the high seas. He noted that while in the past escorts were limited to areas near Iran, the navy now escorts Iranian vessels around the world.
Emphasizing both the soft and hard aspects of Iran’s naval power, Admiral Irani said that Iranian naval task forces are currently conducting joint exercises in the Far East and waters off the African continent.
Commenting on the expansion of the navy’s capabilities, Admiral Irani confirmed that the warship Khuzestan, a sister ship to Kordestan, will soon be commissioned. Once operational, Iran will be able to carry out larger-scale, long-range maritime missions.
He concluded by stressing that all countries can benefit from maritime resources, adding that Iran’s naval power allows it to protect and utilize these resources in support of national interests.
MNA/6672910