Iran flaunts naval prowess with joint drill
A joint naval exercise participated by naval forces from several countries ended in Iran’s southern waters in the Persian Gulf.
Naval forces from Iran, Russia, Oman, Saudi Arabia, India, Thailand, Pakistan, Qatar and Bangladesh took part in the military drills which began on Saturday.
Rear Admiral Mostafa Tajeddini, the spokesperson for the exercise dubbed IONS Maritime Exercise (IMEX) 2024, said that the naval forces practiced a range of operations including maritime firefighting, search operations, and oil spill prevention, control, and countermeasure (SPCC).
The drill is part of the IMEX series of exercises, which began in 2022 when the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) conducted the first edition of its IONS Maritime Exercise 2022 (IMEX-22).
The naval exercise was held under the motto of “Together for a safe and secure Indian Ocean.” It carried the message of peace, friendship, empathy and collective participation.
Tajeddini said that establishing security at the regional and international level is very important, and for this reason, the naval forces of the Indian Ocean launched the military maneuver to increase the level of readiness and coordination.
Speaking on the sidelines of the drill, Commander of the Iranian Navy Rear Admiral Shahram Irani emphasized Iran’s commitment to its responsibilities within IONS.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran is in charge of two crucial committees—maritime security and humanitarian actions—and we are fulfilling these duties effectively,” he told reporters.
The admiral highlighted the active participation of several IONS member countries, with some sending naval units and observers to the event, while others joined remotely. The exercise, aimed at enhancing maritime security and protecting global trade routes, represents a significant collaboration among member states.
Admiral Irani emphasized that Iran’s presence in the region serves as a stabilizing force. “
The IONS features 24 Indian Ocean littoral states, which gather biennially for multilateral meetings and naval exercises.
The IONS is a voluntary initiative that seeks to increase maritime cooperation 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.