Alwaght- Italian and Iranian warships have conducted joint military maneuvers in the Persian Gulf in a rare drill between a Western country and the Islamic Republic.
The joint PASSEX drills were held this week in the strategic waterway between the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman. The Commander of the Iranian Navy's First Zone Rear Admiral Hussein Azad said the joint drills were staged to display peace and friendship between the two countries with the participation of a number of Iranian warships and helicopters and the Italian warship, 'Euro', which had berthed in Iran's Southern port city of Bandar Abbas on Saturday.
The drill zone stretched from Langargah region along the coasts of Iran's Southern port city of Bandar Abbas to the warm waters of the Strait of Hormuz.
Italian warship, 'Euro', berthed in Iran's territorial waters in the Southern port city of Bandar Abbas on Saturday.
The warship which docked in Iran's first naval zone in the Persian Gulf was sent with the aim of expanding political, cultural and military ties between the two countries.
In a meeting with Italy’s ambassador to Tehran, Mauro Conciatori, and the country’s military attaché, Admiral Azad said the Italian frigate has been dispatched to the Islamic Republic with the purpose of improving political, cultural and military relations.
“Given the international nature of naval forces in all countries across the world, naval units comprising warships and air [force] units are dispatched to other countries each year in the form of a fleet,” the Iranian commander added.
He noted that such visits are aimed at enhancing international maritime interactions and conducting joint naval maneuvers between two or more countries.
Iran’s Navy has also an active presence in the international scene by holding naval meetings and making various voyages while hosting the warships of different countries every year, the commander said.
He added that the enemy has always sought to undermine Iran and spread Iranophobia; however, different countries dispatch their military and naval forces to Iran and participate in joint projects as the high level of security in the Islamic Republic has been proved to neighboring and regional countries and the entire world.
Meanwhile, Commander of Iran's Navy Rear-Admiral Habibollah Sayyari has said that several Iranian destroyers may visit Italian ports in near future. The Iranian commander added the Italian Navy frigate berthed at port city of Bandar Abbas in line with the two countries’ plan to boost friendly military relations.
Italy Pursues Independent Stances
The Italian government, to an extent, pursues independent policies in the international arena and does not necessarily follow guidelines or orders from the US. Such an approach has naturally enabled Italy to have close ties with the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Italy has for a long period of time been Iran’s largest trading partner in European Union. Indeed Italy was one of the countries that continued trade ties with Iran ignoring the illegal sanctions imposed by the US against the Islamic Republic.
Iran sees Italy as one of its closest partners in the West. Undoubtedly, the level of trust between Iran and Italy is higher than between Tehran and most Western nations. Italy’s interest in Iran is not just based on trade and economic ties.
Iran's expansion of security and military ties with Italy is a pointer that the emergent Islamic Republic seeks to assert itself militarily in the international arena to be at per with other global powers. However, unlike superpowers and especially the US which seek to spread their hegemony globally thorough their armies, Iran's military presence in the international arena is meant to guarantee global peace and security. It is in line with this policy that In line with international efforts against piracy, the Iranian Navy has been also conducting patrols in the Indian Ocean and Gulf of Aden since November 2008 in order to safeguard merchant containers and oil tankers owned or leased by Iran or other countries.
Iran’s Navy has managed to foil several attacks on both Iranian and foreign tanker ships during its missions in international waters. Italy is also involved in international efforts to combat piracy and as such, both countries share similar interests in boosting security at the high seas.
Iran's future presence at Italian Mediterranean ports will mark a turning point in the military ties between Tehran and Rome.
Italy is one of the leading weapon manufacturers in the world and by getting close to Iran, the country intends also to market its military hardware and become the first Western country to sell its arms and military technology to the country since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
