01.01.2004, 01:07
IRANIAN NAVAL FORCES IN THE NEWS. Two Iranian warships, the fleet replenishment tanker "Bandar Abbas," and amphibious operations logistics support ship "Lavan," have arrived in Mumbai, Mumbai's "The Times of India" reported on 8 March. On 10 March the two ships began their participation in joint exercises with ships of the Indian Western Naval Fleet.
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on 11 March visited the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Navy's Ashura exhibition in Tehran, state television reported. Khamenei was told that the three main axes of the IRGC Navy are its vessels, shore-to-sea missiles, and its marines. The exhibit itself featured Ashura-, Tariq-, Zulfaqar-, and Zuljenah-class vessels and various types of missiles with ranges up to 300 kilometers.
During Khamenei's visit, furthermore, a direct television link was established with the naval bases in Bandar Abbas and Bushehr so he could give the order for the launching of 313 new vessels. IRGC Navy commander Rear Admiral Morteza Safari said that the vessels are armed with different types of missile and torpedo launchers and have increased the IRGC Navy's combat capabilities in the Persian Gulf and Sea of Oman, state radio reported on 12 March. (Bill Samii)
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.rferl.org/iran-report/2003/03/11-170303.html">http://www.rferl.org/iran-report/2003/03/11-170303.html</a><!-- m -->
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on 11 March visited the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Navy's Ashura exhibition in Tehran, state television reported. Khamenei was told that the three main axes of the IRGC Navy are its vessels, shore-to-sea missiles, and its marines. The exhibit itself featured Ashura-, Tariq-, Zulfaqar-, and Zuljenah-class vessels and various types of missiles with ranges up to 300 kilometers.
During Khamenei's visit, furthermore, a direct television link was established with the naval bases in Bandar Abbas and Bushehr so he could give the order for the launching of 313 new vessels. IRGC Navy commander Rear Admiral Morteza Safari said that the vessels are armed with different types of missile and torpedo launchers and have increased the IRGC Navy's combat capabilities in the Persian Gulf and Sea of Oman, state radio reported on 12 March. (Bill Samii)
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.rferl.org/iran-report/2003/03/11-170303.html">http://www.rferl.org/iran-report/2003/03/11-170303.html</a><!-- m -->