Jamaran Destroyer Back Home From Mission In Int'l Waters

Tehran, Jan 21, IRNA - First home-made destroyer, Jamaran was back home on Sunday from its 68-day mission in international waters. The commander of Iranian navy’s 23rd fleet, First Captain Babak Balouch in a ceremony held to celebrate the return of Jamaran destroyer back home in the first naval zone of Bandar Abbas port, noted that Iranian navy’s presence in the international waters has the message of peace for regional countries and it is a show of power against piracy. “Iranian navy’s 23rd fleet fulfilled its mission in patrolling the international waters, visiting Sudanese port as well as securing the safety of ships in the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea.” In the meantime, the Iranian Navy’s 24th fleet, including two destroyers named “Sabalan” and “Kharg”, were dispatched on Sunday from the first naval zone on an extraterritorial mission to the Northern Indian Ocean to defend the country’s cargo ships and oil tankers against the continued attacks by pirates. The Jamaran destroyer is part of the Iranian Navy’s 23rd fleet sent to the Red Sea. Earlier this month, the 22nd fleet of warships returned to Iran after completing its 75-day mission in free and international waters. The fleet, comprising Kharg helicopter carrier and a warship, was dispatched to the coasts of Djibouti and Bab el-Mandeb Strait in late September to maintain the security of shipping lines against maritime terrorism. Iran's Navy has been increasing its presence in the international waters to protect naval routes and provide security for the Iranian merchant vessels and tankers. In line with international efforts against piracy, the Iranian Navy has been conducting patrols in the pirate-infested Gulf of Aden since November 2008 in order to safeguard merchant containers and oil tankers owned or leased by Iran or other countries./end