Data show Irans non-oil exports exceeded $8 billion in the first two months of the current Iranian year.[/caption]Mashhad, Khorasan Razavi Prov., Dec 6, IRNA Navy Commander Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari here Friday said currently 90% of exports and imports of the country are through the seas.
Delivering a pre-sermon speech at Friday prayers here, the commander said Iran is a maritime country with three thousand km of marine border the largest coast of which is Makran coastline.
Stressing that the sea is the major provider of foodstuff in the world, he stated: In our country the least advantage is taken from maritime foodstuff and for some reasons these God-given blessings are not used properly.
Sayyari pointed to the use of oil and gas as well as new energies obtained from tidal waves as the role of the sea in development of the region and in tourism as other gifts of the sea.
The navy commander further remarked: Now all major cities in the world are situated beside the sea so that two third of the world population are living close to the sea.
He said meanwhile, except for Band Abbas, none of the 20 major cities in the country are located beside the sea.
The commander said that Iran currently possesses all the conditions for dominating over the seas, adding that in line with the Islamic Revolution and guidelines of the Supreme Leader in the past two decades the plan for return to the sea is being implemented.
Today, the Islamic Republic by being present in the Indian Ocean, the Sea of Aden, the Suez Canal and the Mediterranean Sea has put its marine capability in open seas on display.
Referring to Irans measures for fighting marine terrorism, Commander Sayyari said now security is restored to the Gulf of Aden which handles one third of the world trade.
To this end, since 2008 security has been provided for two thousand ships and 160 cases of confrontation have been recorded with pirates.
Today, the children of our country are ready to fight with any threat against borders and interests of the Islamic Republic in open and international seas.
By IRNA
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