Navy Commander: Iran-Russia Military Co-op At Good Level

Moscow, July 10, IRNA – Iran Navy Commander Rear-Admiral Habibollah Sayyari said on Tuesday that Iran-Russia military relations are at a good level and prospect of cooperation is bright. Asked whether Iran and Russia would hold joint maneuvers, Sayyari said, ˈSuch a proposal has been raised and it requires an agreement to do so.ˈ He underlined that Iranian government is determined to expand ties with the neighboring states. He said that usually, expansion of relations with the regional and trans-regional states is an Iranian top priority favoring educational, industrial and technical cooperation. ˈExpansion of cooperation with other countries, especially neighboring states, is an Iranian foreign policy agenda.ˈ As for Iranian military achievements, Sayyari said Iran has been successful to build required defense equipment inside and has even taken widescale measures to build munitions and equipment. To a question on Iranian measures to protect territorial waters, Sayyari said that the Persian Gulf is Iranˈs territorial water having extensive resources and mines and its protection is hence a priority. He added that similarly the Suez Canal also is an international waterway and a corridor for movement of ships. Sayyari is on a visit to Russia over the past few days. On Sunday, he met and conferred with Russian counterpart on mutual and regional cooperation, especially security of the common and international waterways. The two sides discussed ways to guarantee security of the Caspian Sea in cooperation with the neighbors, holding joint maneuvers. Iran and Russia are also studying Navy cooperation on educational and technical grounds./end