Navy Commander: Iran Building More Jamaran-Class Destroyers

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iranian Navy Commander Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari said the country has started construction of several Jamaran destroyers to further boost its naval power.

"In a bid to increase the Navy's level of preparedness, more Jamaran (class) destroyers are under construction," Sayyari told FNA in Iran's Southwestern port city of Mahshahr on Tuesday.

Iranian defense ministry officials had said earlier that the third generation of the home-made vessel, Jamaran-3 destroyer, will come into operation by the end of the current Iranian year (March 21, 2013 - March 20, 2014).

Iran's first home-made destroyer, Jamaran, was launched in late February 2010. The country's second Mowdge class destroyer was launched in March.

Elsewhere, Sayyari stressed his forces' preparedness to confront threats against Iran's interests, and stated, "With regard to defending water borders and the country's interests and resources in the seas, such as ensuring security of the shipping lines, this force (navy) enjoys the needed preparedness to confront any type of threat."

He further announced that wider presence in the high seas is top on the Navy's agenda to protect Iran's interests.

Yesterday, Sayyari said that the Iranian Navy has concentrated its missions on the strategic straits of Hormuz, Bab el-Mandeb and Malacca after a relevant order by Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei.

"The golden triangle of Malacca, Bab el-Mandeb and the Strait of Hormuz is an important triangle and is the Navy's point of concentration as recommended by the Leader," Sayyari said, addressing Navy cadets in Iran's Southern port city of Bandar Imam Khomeini.

Underlining the strategic and vital importance of the three waterways for Iran, the Admiral explained that 93% of Iran's exports and imports pass through these sea routes.