MNA � The commander of Iran�s navy says that despite the maritime wealth of the country, colonial super powers have always deprived the Iranian nation from tapping the sea opportunities.


Iran's Navy Commander Rear-Admiral Habibollah Sayyari addressed the commanders, instructors, and students at Imam Khomeini Maritime University in Nowshahr, north of Iran, on Sunday.

�Terrestrial borders make up 45 percent of Iran�s geopolitical boundaries while rivers act as 15% of total length and the remaining 31 percent is of Iran�s maritime borderline,� recounted the commander at his speech. Nevertheless, only 7% of Iran�s exporting and importing traffic passes through the terrestrial borders and 93 per cent of the flow goes through the maritime gates.�

�It clarifies how important the seas and the navies are for us,� affirmed the Iranian commander referring to the high rate of trade of goods done through Iranian sea ports, �we are obliged to know the importance of the maritime regions which are patrolled by Iranian navy vessels.�

He quoted Iran�s Leader, Ayatollah Khomeini saying that Iran is a maritime country and enlisted six features necessary for labeling a country as a maritime state, �geographical position, physical features, maritime and territorial vastitude, good-size population, a sea friendly people, and sea-strategist statesmen.�

The Iranian commander opined that the natural features have been inherited by the nation but the acquisitive features have been prevented from Iranians by colonialists.

�All the shortcomings and deficiencies prevailing over our country will be lifted and removed by capable hands of you,� he addressed the students and personnel present at the venue. �With developing Makran Coast and other shores, God willingly, we would resurrect our maritime civilization.�