Alwaght- Iranian Navy is seeking a far reaching arm by deploying a fleet to cross the Atlantic Ocean in near future, Navy Commander said on Saturday.
During a televised interview, Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari said “We are not limited to regional waters, and should have a far-reaching arm in international waters as security would not come about in the absence of power.”
“Beyond a doubt, our naval fleets will, in the near future, circle Africa and cross the Atlantic,” he said adding that Iranian navy will sail to waters of East Asia.
An Iranian naval group left the country’s southern coast last month, heading to the Gulf of Aden and then Tanzania’s Port of Dar es Salaam. It is currently berthed off South Africa in the Atlantic.
The 44th flotilla of the Iranian Navy, consisting of the Alvand destroyer and the Bushehr logistic vessel, has sailed into the Atlantic Ocean for the first time.
Referring to the claims of the US president-elect Donald Trump to shoot Iranian naval vessels “out of the water” if they “inappropriately” approach US ships, the admiral said “such remarks can only be replied by laughter. The US thinks it is the world’s overlord. We don’t accept that.”
“They are not in the position to take decisions concerning the high seas,” the Navy chief asserted, adding, “Should any parties seek to prevent our presence in international waters, we would do the same to them.”
Iran has invariably asserted that it only uses its naval might for defensive purposes and to send across the Islamic Republic’s message of peace and security to other nations.
