Iranian Navy Commander Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari Tuesday stressed his forces' capability to conduct joint exercises with friendly states, adding that the Navy plans to stage joint wargames with Oman's Navy in Iran's Persian Gulf waters early in April.

Speaking on the sidelines of an exhibition of the scientific and technological achievements of Iran’s Navy in the Northern city of Noshahr, Rear Admiral Sayyari said that the three-day maritime joint maneuver with Oman is scheduled to be held on April 7, 2014.

The Iranian Commander also said that the country plans to increase its presence in the high seas, saying that Iran’s 30th Naval Fleet will be dispatched to the international waters in order to sail around the African continent.

Last Wednesday, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani in a meeting with Omani Sultan Qaboos in Masqat hailed the good and friendly relations between the two countries, saying the Tehran-Masqat ties set a role-model for other nations.

“Iran-Oman relations set an example of good neighborly ties between two countries,” President Rouhani said during the meeting in the Omani capital.

The Iranian President and the Sultan of Oman stressed development of relations between the two countries in all fields, including energy, shipping, customs affairs, financial issues, environment, tourism and maintaining security of the Strait of Hormuz.

Iranian officials have repeatedly underlined that they attach great importance to the consolidation of Tehran's relations with the Middle-East countries, especially with the Persian Gulf littoral states, in order to protect and promote peace and security in the region.

Source: FNA

Photo (File): The Royal Navy of Oman’s Al-Shamikh Patrol Vessel