NOURNEWS - Deputy Commander of the Iranian Navy for Coordination Rear Admiral Hamzeh Ali Kivani announced that Iran will continue its joint naval exercises with China and Russia in the High Seas.
“As you witness, following the Iran-Russia naval exercise, China and India also sought to participate in the exercise. Certainly, this process will continue in joint exercises with the great naval powers," Rear Admiral Kivani said.
He reiterated that Iran is powerful enough to establish security in the Persian Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz, and the North Indian Ocean.
In relevant remarks in mid-February, Rear Admiral Tahani said security of the sea lanes in the North of the Indian Ocean is among the most important goals of the exercise.
"We emphasize that the North Indian Ocean region is one of the safest maritime regions," Tahani said in the presence of the commanders of the navies of Iranian Army, Islamic Revolution Guards Corps and Russia, adding that one of the goals of the joint drills is to boost security of the North Indian Ocean region.
"The North Indian Ocean is one of the most important and strategic waterways in the world and plays an important role in world trade and shipping," he went on to say.
"The security of shipping lines in this region, especially in the area between the Strait of Hormuz, the Malacca Strait and the Bab al-Mandab Strait, guarantees the preservation of economic interests in the world, which requires the cooperation and convergence of different navies," the spokesman noted.
"Many countries navigate the Sea of Oman and the Indian Ocean, which are key areas of world trade, and therefore maintaining maritime security is crucial," Tahani stated.
He said that improving combat readiness, achieving collective security and exchanging experience in the field of counter-terrorism and piracy are important goals of this exercise.
Also earlier in February, Iran’s Navy Commander Rear Admiral Hossein Khanzadi announced that the Indian Navy is going to join the Iran-Russia joint naval exercises.
“Since last year, the Navy has put on the agenda a series of joint maritime security drills with the participation of countries in the region and the world," Khanzadi said, adding, "This time, the Russian Navy joined the exercise site, and the Indian Navy is scheduled to join the combined maritime security exercise."
"Last year, the Chinese Navy had joined the powerful navies of the Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran. This year, as the exercise coincides with Chinese New Year, they announced that their navy would join the exercise after their New Year," the commander noted.
"The overall goal of the exercise is to achieve collective security at the regional level, which will help sustain security in the North Indian Ocean in a sustainable way for the benefit of stakeholders," Khanzadi said.
"The feature of this year's exercise is the joining of the Indian Navy. India is one of the most powerful navies in the region. The presence of the navy in the exercise is very important for India and Iran," he stressed.
"The combination of efforts that are taking place in the Indian Ocean region shows that the regional countries, especially those with naval powers, are becoming more convergent than ever in order to achieve collective security. It means that the Global Arrogance must realize that it must leave the region,” the commander highlighted.