Commander: Development of Makran Coasts to Expand Iran’s Range of Influence
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – A high-ranking Iranian military officer highlighted the significance of the Makran coasts, located southeast of the country, stressing that development of the strategic coastline could elevate Iran’s position to the trans-regional scales.
“Development of the Makran coasts is the base for and the key to Iran’s jump from a regional power to a trans-regional one,” Iran’s Army Lieutenant Commander Brigadier General Abdolrahim Mousavi said on Saturday at the 2nd National Conference on Development of Makran Coasts and the Islamic Republic’s Naval Power, held in the southeastern port of Jask.
The Makran coasts have many geopolitical and security characteristics, the commander explained, noting that Iran’s access to regional and international waters through that area could help raise its position in the world.
The conference aimed to explore the avenues for the development of the Makran coasts, located on the rims of the Oman Sea. The first such conference was held in the southeastern Iranian port of Chabahar in February 2013.
The coasts of Makran have in recent years attracted the attention of many Iranian decision-makers and military officials.
Navy Commander Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari had earlier announced that Iran plans to speed up development projects in the country's southeastern coasts, which stretch from Iran's port city of Bandar Abbas to Makran (also known as Pasabandar).
