TEHRAN (Tasnim) – A senior Iranian Navy commander announced that Iran and India will stage joint naval exercises in the near future.

“A joint military exercise by Iran and India will be staged in the Persian Gulf (south of Iran) and the Indian Ocean in coming days,” Commander of Iran's First Naval Zone Admiral Amir Hossein Azad made the remarks on Friday one day after an Indian Navy fleet docked at Iranian port city of Bandar Abbas, the provincial capital of Hormozgan province, for a 5-day stay.

Azad added that Iran and India play a key role in ensuring the security of the high seas, adding that the Indian naval personnel on board the warships are scheduled to hold joint military exercises with Iran’s Navy on the last day of their stay in the province.

He went on to say that the two countries enjoy numerous commonalities, adding that such cooperation can boost military ties between the two nations.

Also on Friday, Indian Defense Ministry issued a statement and said that the fleet entered Iran as part of a “goodwill visit to strengthen the bilateral relations” between the two countries.

"It has been India's national objective to ensure a secure and stable regional environment, which is conducive for economic and social development not just at home, but also in immediate and extended neighborhood," the Defense Ministry further said in the statement.

"The Indian Navy, while shouldering its security responsibilities, is committed to these objectives and has been contributing towards humanitarian assistance, capacity building and capability enhancement of friendly foreign countries when so needed," it added.

By Tasnim News Agency