Iranian Navy to Expand Operational Zone in Indian Ocean

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iran's Navy Commander Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari announced that the Navy plans to stretch its operational range in the Northern waters of the Indian Ocean.

Speaking to reporters after a meeting with Assistant Chief of Staff of Oman's Armed Forces Rashed Bin Seif Bin Al-Rashidi here in Tehran, Sayyari stressed the necessity for further interactions between Iran and the countries on the Northern rims of the Indian Ocean given the Navy's plan to increase its operational zone.

"Given the expansion of the operational zone of the Army's Navy in the Northern Indian Ocean and our plan for going to waters beyond the 10-degree latitude, we need to have interaction and cooperation with the neighboring states, special countries in the North of the Indian Ocean," Sayyari stated.

He pointed to the Navy's presence in international waters in North of the Indian Ocean, Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea, and stressed that maintaining such a naval presence demands cooperation with the neighboring states, Oman in particular, reminding that Muscat is among the ports where Iran's naval fleets dock to carry out their necessary tasks, like repair and maintenance.

The Iranian Navy has been conducting anti-piracy patrols in the Gulf of Aden since November 2008, when Somali raiders hijacked the Iranian-chartered cargo ship, MV Delight, off the coast of Yemen.

According to UN Security Council resolutions, different countries can send their warships to the Gulf of Aden and coastal waters of Somalia against the pirates and even with prior notice to Somali government enter the territorial waters of that country in pursuit of Somali sea pirates.

The Gulf of Aden - which links the Indian Ocean with the Suez Canal and the Mediterranean Sea - is an important energy corridor, particularly because Persian Gulf oil is shipped to the West through the Suez Canal.