Iran mounts missiles on hovercrafts

A senior Iranian naval commander says the country's Army has for the first time equipped the Navy's hovercrafts with long-range missiles.

“Iran is the only country in the world that has fitted its navy's hovercrafts with surface-to-surface missiles,” IRNA quoted Rear Admiral Seyyed Mahmoud Moussavi, a top Navy commander, as saying on Saturday. 

Iran sends Navy fleet to Gulf of Aden

The Iranian Navy has dispatched its thirteen fleet of warships to the piracy-ridden waters of the Gulf of Aden in a bid to guard Iranian merchant containers and oil tankers.

"The thirteen fleet of warships, comprised of Tonb and Delvar vessels is tasked with boosting security for Iranian merchant containers and oil tankers in the Gulf of Aden and north of the Indian Ocean for a period of 60 days," IRNA quoted Commander of Iran's First Naval Zone Fariborz Qaderpanah as saying on Thursday. 

Iran’s naval warships enter Suez Canal first time in 3 decades

Iran's naval warships enter Suez Canal first time in 3 decades

Two Iranian naval warships entered the Suez Canal this Tuesday, en route to the Mediterranean. Israel, which views Iran as a threat, has already called the move a 'provocation'. Iranian officials say the frigate and supply vessel are headed to Syria for a year-long training mission. It's the first time Iran's military ships have sailed those waters since the country's Islamic revolution of 1979. Egypt's Defence ministry says Iran's request stated the vessels would have no military equipment or nuclear materials onboard.

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Iran deploys two warships to Mediterranean

Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman on Wednesday called the fact of two Iranian warships heading to the Mediterranean Sea through the Suez Canal a "provocation."

In a speech before the leaders U.S. Jewish organization in Jerusalem, Lieberman said that the two Iranian warships would pass through the Suez Canal overnight and then head to Syria, a country with which Israel is formally at war.

Lieberman referred that the deployment of the warships was "a provocation that proves Iran's nerve and self-esteem is growing from day to day."

Syrian ports will accommodate Iranian warships

Israeli political and military leadership displayed a serious concern over reports of Iran's intentions to station its warships in Syrian ports, reported Iranian Navy's command. 

According to MIGnews, Iranian warships are about to reach the Mediterranean via the Red Sea and the Suez Canal and stay in Syrian territorial waters "for at least a year". Iran gradually expands military presence beyond zones of its direct national interests. Iranian task force has been actively operating off Yemen in the Aden Gulf for the recent two years. The excuse is "anti-piracy activities", but really Iran secures arms supply routes and supports its Shiah allies fighting against Yemeni and Saudi governments. 

Commander Lauds Navy's Performance in Anti-Piracy Mission

TEHRAN (FNA)- Commander of Iran's Navy Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari praised his forces powerful and independent presence in the Gulf of Aden for anti-piracy mission.

"In the Gulf of Aden, 25 to 30 countries are busy patrolling to secure the shipping routes," Sayyari said, adding that while those navies are under NATO command, "the Islamic Republic of Iran is among the countries that work independently." 

Iran, Oman end 2nd joint naval drill

The Islamic Republic of Iran and Oman have ended their second joint naval relief and rescue drill in the north of Omani Sultan Qaboos Port.

Four Omani vessels, two fighter planes and one coastal helicopter as well as four Iranian surface vessels participated in the joint drill, Iran's Armed Forces Headquarters announced on Wednesday. 

The naval drill was aimed at enhancing readiness for providing relief services, rescue operations, and the level of regional cooperation and exchanging experience. 

The joint naval drill coincided with the ninth session of the five-day joint military conference which opened on February 5 in the Omani capital Muscat. 

Iran and Oman have agreed to carry out joint drill every year. 

Iran mass producing new anti-ship missiles

Iran is mass producing a new ballistic missile which can travel at more than three times the speed of sound and hit targets on the high seas, top commanders said on Monday.

Commander Mohammad Ali Jafari, who heads the elite military force, the Revolutionary Guards, said the missile -- named "Persian Gulf" -- had a range of 300 kilometres (185 miles).

"Iran is mass producing a smart ballistic missile for sea targets with a speed three times more than the speed of sound," state news agency IRNA quoted Jafari as saying about the new missile.

He said the missile was "undetectable and can't be neutralised by enemies," without specifying thename. "It has very high precision in destroying targets," Jafari added.

DM Stresses Key Role of Speedboats in Iran's Naval Doctrine

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iran's Defense Minister Brigadier General Ahmad Vahidi underlined that use of speedboats is at the heart of the Iranian Navy's operational doctrine since high-speed vessels have already proved highly efficient in fighting back US heavyweight warships.

Addressing a conference at Amir Kabir University of Technology here in Tehran today, Vahidi recalled the history of using speedboats for confronting US aircraft carriers, heavy warships and submarines, and noted, "Speedboats proved so successful that they led to the formation of the IRGC (the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps) naval force." 

"The accomplishment also led to major changes in doctrines in different fields," he added.

Iran Mass Producing New Anti-Ship Missiles

TEHRAN - Iran is mass producing a new ballistic missile that can travel at more than three times the speed of sound and hit targets on the high seas, top commanders said on Feb. 7.

Cmdr. Mohammad Ali Jafari, who heads the elite military force, the Revolutionary Guards, said the missile - named "Persian Gulf" - had a range of 300 kilometers.

"Iran is mass producing a smart ballistic missile for sea targets with a speed three times more than the speed of sound," state news agency IRNA quoted Jafari as saying about the new missile.

He said the missile was "undetectable and can't be neutralized by enemies," without specifying the name. "It has very high precision in destroying targets," Jafari added.

"As the enemy's threats will likely come from the sea, air and by missiles, the Guards have been equipped with capabilities to neutralize the enemy's advanced technology," he said, according to another Iranian news agency, ISNA.

Iran Navy saves Hong Konger ship

The naval forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran have thwarted an attempt by pirates to seize a Hong Konger commercial ship in the Red Sea.

The VRYK3 with 32 crewmembers, which was headed from Italy to Australia, was attacked by pirates on Saturday. 

In response to the distress call, Iran's 12th fleet came to the vessel's rescue. The pirates fled the scene following the clash with the Iranian forces and the ship continued on its way. 

In line with international efforts against piracy, the Iranian Navy has been conducting anti-piracy patrols in the Gulf of Aden since November 2008 to safeguard maritime trade and in particular ships and oil tankers owned or leased by Iran. 

Iran, Oman begin 2nd joint naval drill

Iranian naval vessel units departed the country's southern coast for Oman as the two countries prepare to hold their second joint military drill.

According to a statement released by the Iranian Navy, the joint naval exercises coincide with the ninth session of the joint military committee in the Omani capital city, Muscat. 

Last month, Deputy Commander of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Brigadier General Hossein Salami said Iranian and Omani armed forces would exchange views on common issues during the five-day conference which opened on February 5. 

He noted that the two countries drew plans for the next year, including exchanging visits between commanders, holding educational courses, staging joint marine maneuvers and expanding educational cooperation. 

The Iranian commander pointed to “very good” marine cooperation between the two countries and stressed the importance of promoting closer relations between Iran and Oman, as two Muslim countries located near the strategic Strait of Hormuz.