TEHRAN (Iran News) –Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei stressed the need for the Iranian Navy to bolster and maintain its presence in international waters.

A number of commanders and officials of Iran’s Navy met with Ayatollah Khamenei, the commander-in-chief of the Iranian Armed Forces, on Monday on the occasion of Navy Day.

In the gathering, the Leader emphasized the need for the Navy to boost its combat capabilities and defense equipment and to continue navigation in remote and international waters.

Ayatollah Khamenei also noted that stronger relations between the Armed Forces and the administration and other branches of power will result in understanding, cooperation and progress.

Pointing to the history of maritime activities in Iran that have conveyed the Islamic and Iranian culture and civilization to other parts of the world, the Leader stated, “With such a history and the long sea coasts in the north and particularly the south of Iran, the culture of using the opportunities of the sea has been ignored in Iran, whereas it should turn into the public culture of people.”

Ayatollah Khamenei further highlighted the importance of creating a culture in this regard and developing a public understanding of the sea as a fundamental infrastructure, saying, “The issue of development of the Makran coasts has been mooted in the past few years and the administrations also welcomed it, but a significant progress in this field requires culture-creating.”

The Leader also pointed to the effective role of artistic products, such as animations, in publicizing the diverse opportunities available in the sea, noting that the presentation of capacities for Iran’s sea-based progress in the military and civil sectors will generate public enthusiasm for grasping those opportunities.

Earlier yesterday, the Chief Commander of the Iranian Navy urged the removal of terrorism supporters from the region thanks to synergy, consensus, and convergence among regional states.

On the occasion of Iran’s Navy Day, the Chief Commander of Iran’s Army Rear Admiral Shahram Irani emphasized the Islamic Republic of Iran expects that the countries of the region will reach a synergy by relying on their capabilities and by expelling the notorious countries that are on the path of terrorism in the name of providing security,  fully take the control of the security of the region in their hands.

Irani said about the importance of honoring Navy Day and its continuous presence in the seas that each organization has been dedicated a day according to the type of activity it has had involved with and the peak point it has reached, and this day is remembered every year.

Regarding the message conveyed by Iran, Russia, and China’s joint naval drill Rear Admiral Irani added that the Iranian Navy, which is active in the international arena, should have relations with countries.

Rear Admiral Irani stated that maritime and defense diplomacy are one of the levels of our relations. Holding drills are done in the form of joint hybrid drills with countries that respect each other and are very close regarding training, technology, and equipment.

Rear admiral Irani said about the significance and message of the presence of the Iranian Navy in the northern Indian Ocean and other strategic maritime areas: “The Strategic Navy of the Islamic Republic of Iran has a serious presence in the northern Indian Ocean as a special international region and of global significance due to the amount of movement of vessels, the presence of civilian vessels, and especially as a golden triangle of the maritime and sea-based economy; in order to establish shipping security and prioritize the security of civilian vessels of the Islamic Republic of Iran in the commercial, oil tanker, and fisheries fields.”

The commander of the Iranian Navy stated that the message of our presence in the waters is that we stand on our own feet and independently establish this security for our shipping line. Still, besides this, it is a great honor for the strategic Navy of the Islamic Republic of Iran that the countries of the region and other shipping lines of the world also benefit from this security.

In the end, the Chief Commander of the Iranian Navy said the role and contribution of the Iranian Navy in establishing maritime security is a special one due to its independent functioning, so it has always won the attention of the United Nations and international organizations, and we have received letters of appreciation.