Iran, Russia plan joint naval exercise in Caspian Sea: Russian cmdr.<\/p>\n
A top Russian Navy commander says his country and Iran are examining a plan to conduct a join naval exercise in the Caspian Sea in the second half of the current year.\n<\/p>\n
Deputy Commander of Russia\u00e2\u201e\u00a2s Caspian Flotilla Nikolai Yakubovsky announced the news after a Friday meeting with the commander of Iran\u00e2\u201e\u00a2s naval fleet that has been dispatched to the Russian port city of Astrakhan, RIA Novosti reported.\n<\/p>\n
The representatives of Iran\u00e2\u201e\u00a2s Navy have reportedly welcomed the proposal.\n<\/p>\n
In 2009, the two countries conducted their first joint naval maneuvers in the Caspian Sea, involving about 30 vessels.\n<\/p>\n
Iran has dispatched two indigenously-built missile-launching warships to Astrakhan in a move to consolidate friendly relations between Tehran and Moscow.\n<\/p>\n
During the Iranian naval fleet\u00e2\u201e\u00a2s stay at Astrakhan Port, the Iranian naval officers will visit some military and port facilities in Russia and hold meetings with a number of high-ranking Russian commanders and officials.\n<\/p>\n
On April 21, a group of Russian Navy warships docked at the southern Iranian port city of Bandar Abbas after a long journey from the Pacific Ocean.\n<\/p>\n
The fleet, which comprised Admiral Panteleyev anti-submarine destroyer and the logistic battleships Peresvet and Admiral Nevelskoi vessel with a crew of 712, entered the Iranian naval zone in a bid to further strengthen relations between Tehran and Moscow and promote bilateral naval cooperation to maintain maritime security.\n<\/p>\n
In recent years, Iran\u00e2\u201e\u00a2s Navy has been increasing its presence in international waters to protect naval routes and provide security for merchant vessels and tankers.\n<\/p>\n
The Islamic Republic has repeatedly asserted that its overseas naval presence is meant to convey a message of peace and friendship to other countries.\n<\/p>\n
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