Iran, in first, sends warships to the Gulf of Aden
NICOSIA — Iranian Navy commander Adm. Habibollah Sayyari said six
warships had sent to the Gulf of Aden and "international waters".
Sayyari said this marked the first time the navy had projected power so far
from Iran.
"Iran has dispatched six warships to international waters and the Gulf
of Aden region in an historically unprecedented move by the Iranian Navy,"
Sayyari said on May 25. "This is indicative of the country's high military capability
in confronting any foreign threat on the country's shores."
Iran, amid the unprecedented long-range sea mission, also
announced the launch of an indigenous naval artillery.
Also In This Edition
The Iranian Defense Ministry said it has begun production of a 40 mm
naval artillery platform, Middle East Newsline reported. The anti-aircraft artillery, called Fatah, was
inaugurated by Defense Minister Mustafa Najar on May 24.
"The anti-aircraft low-altitude weapon is entirely indigenous and will
be employed on warships," Najar said.
Najar said Fatah has a range of 12 kilometers. He said the artillery can
fire 300 shells per minute.
The assembly line was launched on the anniversary of a major Iranian
victory in the war with Iraq, held from 1980 to 1988. The anniversary was of
the Iranian Army recapture of the port city of Khoramshahr from Iraq in
1982.
The Defense Ministry has overseen the development and production of a
range of Iranian naval weapons. The ministry has announced the deployment of
indigenous torpedoes, miniature submarines, fast attack craft and missiles.
