Iran Ready to Dispatch Naval Flotillas to Japan: Army Commander
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Deputy Chief of Iran’s Army for Coordination Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari, in a meeting with Rear Admiral Hiroshi Yamamura, the vice chief of staff of Japan’s Maritime Self-Defense Force, called for closer cooperation between the navies of the two countries.
The meeting was held in Tehran on Monday on the sidelines of the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) 2018.
Rear Admiral Sayyari pointed to the strategic position of the Islamic Republic and said the country is willing to boost its ties with all friendly countries.
Japan is a “maritime nation”, he said, adding that Iran is willing to promote ties with the country’s navy as well as its ground and aerial forces.
He further emphasized that Iran is prepared to host Japanese naval flotillas and dispatch its naval flotillas to the East Asian country.
Yamamura, for his part, thanked Iran for inviting him to participate in the IONS 2018 and expressed the hope that the military ties between Tehran and Tokyo would develop more than ever.
The naval symposium (IONS 2018) opened in Tehran on Monday with high-ranking military officials and navy commanders from 35 countries in attendance.
Iran officially assumed the presidency of the symposium for two years with the launch of the event.
The IONS is a voluntary initiative that seeks to increase maritime co-operation among navies of the littoral states of the Indian Ocean Region by providing an open and inclusive forum for discussion of regionally relevant maritime issues.
There are 32 Navies of the IONS - 23 members and 9 observers.