Navy command : Iran presence in high seas in accord with int'l rules

Iranian presence in international waters is in accordance with international rules, Iranian Navy Commander Rear-Admiral Habibollah Sayyari said on Monday. The official noted that high seas belong to all countries. Pointing to three-year presence of Iran in high seas, he underlined that Iran never sought adventurism. “Mighty presence in high seas can prepare the ground for development,” Sayyari stated. He made it clear that presence of Iranian Navy in high seas is a symbol of Iranian nation might. “Indian Ocean is the throat of Iranian trade with foreign countries and the presence of Iranian Navy there is necessary,” Sayyari stated. He asserted that Iranian Navy would be inspiring and help the multi-cultural relations between Iran and other nations. Answering a question about US sensitiveness about Iran active presence in international waters, Iranian Navy Commander stated, “When regional countries can establish peace, the presence of Americans in regional waters has no justification.” Iranian home-built destroyer 'Jamaran' started its first long-term naval mission heading to high seas and the Gulf of Aden from southern Iranian Bandar-Abbas Port on October 8. Jamaran destroyer is the first destroyer built by Iranian navy domestically. Jamaran is a 94-meter-long domestically made guided-missile destroyer equipped with torpedoes and is capable of engaging in surface, air, and undersea warfare. Iran's 16th fleet of warships, which include Jamaran destroyer and the Bandar Abbas warship, left for the Gulf of Aden in line with efforts to provide security for Iranian trade vessels. It was docked Port of Salalah in Oman for the first time on Monday. The 1,420-ton destroyer is equipped with modern radars and electronic warfare capabilities. It has a top speed of up to 30 knots and has a helipad. It also features highly advanced anti- aircraft, anti-surface and anti-subsurface systems and is equipped with torpedoes.