The 29th fleet of warships which is planned to serve intelligence, combat and training purposes, set sail from the country’s southern port of Bandar Abbas for the Atlantic Ocean on Tuesday.
The fleet is comprised of Kharg logistic warship –capable of carrying helicopters—and Sabalan destroyer, and is scheduled to travel some 25,000 nautical kilometers on its journey towards the Atlantic Ocean within the next three months.
In a ceremony to deploy the fleet, Iranian Navy Commander Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari explained that the 29th fleet is expected to provide security for the Iranian vessels in the shipping lines of the high seas, and added that navy cadets will also receive necessary training in the voyage.
“Today, the Islamic Republic of Iran is among the most important countries that takes responsibility for the security of the vessels which pass through the Gulf of Aden and Bab el-Mandeb strait,” the commander added.
In recent years, Iran’s naval forces have increased their presence in international waters to protect naval routes and provide security for trade vessels and oil tankers.
In line with the international efforts to combat piracy, the Iranian Navy has also been conducting anti-piracy patrols in the Gulf of Aden since November 2008 to safeguard the vessels involved in maritime trade, especially the ships and oil tankers owned or leased by Iran.