Iranian Navy's Sina 7 submarine[/caption]Iran Navy Commander Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari has reaffirmed the Islamic Republics determination to protect maritime security for the countrys commercial vessels.
As long as we maintain our maritime presence, we will not allow any intrusion against our commercial ships, Sayyari said in a Wednesday ceremony.
So far, apart from escorting more than 2,000 commercial vessels and oil tankers, the Navy has had nearly 150 confrontations with pirates and has arrested and handed over several groups of them to the respective judicial authorities, he added.
Sayyari pointed out that the Islamic Republic has provided the maritime security as far away as the southern Indian waters down to 10-degree northern latitude and has assisted both Iranian vessels and the foreign ships requesting help.
Iran Navy has been expanding its presence in the international waters since last year, deploying vessels to the Indian Ocean and around the Horn of Africa. It also dispatched two ships via the Suez Canal to the Mediterranean for the first time in February 2011.
Moreover, in line with the international efforts to combat piracy, the Iranian Navy has been conducting anti-piracy patrols in the Gulf of Aden since November 2008 to shield the vessels involved in maritime trade, especially ships and oil tankers owned or leased by Iran.
The country has repeatedly clarified that its military might is merely based on the nation's defense doctrine of deterrence and poses no threat to other countries.
By Press TV
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