TEHRAN (Tasnim) � Ranking military commanders from Iran and China in a meeting in Tehran weighed plans for stronger maritime cooperation, including joint naval exercises.





Iranian Navy Commander Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari and deputy chief of the General Staff of China had a meeting in Tehran on Sunday.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Sayyari said they conferred on a range of issues, such as exchanging military instructors and cadets.

Talks were also held on technical expertise in the repair, maintenance and overhaul of vessels and submarines, he added.

�We also discussed (holding joint) rescue and relief, tactical and operational war games,� the Iranian commander noted.

According to Sayyari, another topic that both sides expressed enthusiasm to consider was the fight against piracy.

He said the necessary coordination has been made for combatting pirates in the Gulf of Aden.

Since November 2008, the Iranian navy has conducted anti-piracy missions in the Gulf of Aden and Bab el-Mandeb strait to protect the country's vessels against pirate attacks.

Under the terms of several UN Security Council resolutions, nations can deploy warships to the Gulf of Aden and coastal waters of Somalia to protect their vessels against pirates and, after giving notice to Somali government, enter Somali territorial waters in pursuit of the pirates.

By Tasnim News Agency