Tehran, Dec 9, IRNA -- Commander of Indias West Navy Admiral Shekar Sinhaunderlined the need for the deepening of defense cooperation with the Iranian Navy, and said that his force is ready to send its flotilla to Iran.The Indian Navy has full readiness to expand relations between the two countries navies and exchange of a flotilla to Bandar Abbas port, Admiral Sinha said in a meeting with Commander of the 28th Flotilla Captain Babak Balouch in Mumbai port on Sunday.
He reiterated that the two countries navies have a lot of potential for joint cooperation, and said, We welcome expansion of such collaboration.
Captain Balouch, for his part, briefed Admiral Sinha about the 28th Flotillas missions and duties.
The 28th Fleet of the Iranian Navy berthed in Mumbai on Thursday.
The 28th Flotilla of this force comprising Alborz warship, Bandar Abbas warship and semi-heavy Younus submarine as well as a 212 combat helicopter berthed at Mumbai port after travelling for 3,000 kilometers, Lieutenant Navy Commander for Operations Siyavash Jarreh said last week.
Jarreh underlined that the Navys 28th Flotilla will be present in Mumbai port for three days, and said, During this period various programs, including visit of the commanders of the Indian navy to the Iranian flotilla, meetings between both sides and holding different sports competitions between Iranian and Indian navies personnel has been predicted.
He underlined that the purpose for dispatching the 28th flotilla is both maintaining the security of shipping lines and conveying the message of peace and friendship to the regional countries, and said, This is the first presence of Irans semi-heavy Younus submarine in the eastern waters of the Indian Ocean and port of Mumbai in India.
The Iranian Navys 28th Flotilla will berth at an important port in an eastern Asian country later in December.
Earlier this week, Iranian Navy Commander Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari announced that the navys 28th Flotilla will be dispatched to Mumbai port.
Admiral Sayyari noted that the flotilla will berth in Mumbai with the mission of establishing diplomatic relations between the two countries and supervising the security of Irans interests.
In August, the Iranian Navy dispatched its 27th flotilla of warships to the high seas to protect the country?s cargo ships and oil tankers against pirates.
Admiral Sayyari said the 27th fleet was dispatched after the return of the 26th fleet of the Iranian Navy, comprised of the Bandar Abbas warship and the Alvand destroyer returned home.
Sayyari also said that the mission of the warships is to provide security for Iranian oil tankers and commercial ships sailing on the open seas.
He added that the 26th Fleet had operated in the Gulf of Aden, the Red Sea, and the Northern Indian Ocean during its mission on the open seas and visited a number of ports in Oman and Djibouti.
The Iranian Navy has been conducting anti-piracy patrols in the Gulf of Aden since November 2008, when Somali raiders hijacked the Iranian-chartered cargo ship, MV Delight, off the coast of Yemen.
According to UN Security Council resolutions, different countries can send their warships to the Gulf of Aden and coastal waters of Somalia against the pirates and even with prior notice to Somali government enter the territorial waters of that country in pursuit of Somali sea pirates.
By IRNA
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