Iran Calls Off Plan to Send Warships to the Atlantic

Iranian Navy announced today that it has called off plan to deploy warships near U.S. territorial waters in the Atlantic Ocean.

IRIN Commander Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari said in Tehran such changes in naval plans are routine, “considering the situation in the region.” (Fars News Agency, 13 April)

Adm. Sayyari, however, did not provide specific reasons for the change, but hinted that the “rise in piracy in the Gulf of Aden” might have prompted the decision to cancel deployment to the Atlantic.

In January, Iranian navy announced that its deployed naval group, consisting of a frigate and a replenishment ship, were making a voyage to the Atlantic, with a port visit to South Africa, to demonstrate the country's ability to project power beyond the Middle East.

File photo: IRINS Sabalan (73) Alvand-class frigate (above), and IRINS Kharg (431) Kharg-class replenishment ship (below) were part of Iran’s 29th Deployed Naval Group that were to reach the Atlantic. (FNA)

Pentagon Unconcerned About Iran Sending Warships to Atlantic

The Pentagon said today it was unconcerned by an Iranian announcement that it would send naval vessels toward U.S. maritime borders, noting that lots of countries operated in international waters in the Atlantic.

The Pentagon has no information the ships are approaching the Atlantic yet, said Pentagon spokesman Colonel Steve Warren. “To our knowledge, this is an announcement only at this point,” he said. “We are not concerned about their announcement to send ships into the Atlantic. As I said earlier, freedom of the seas applies to every nation.” (Reuters, 10 February)

File photo: The Pentagon (Getty Images)

Iran Sends Warships to Atlantic

Two Iranian warships set sail today for the Atlantic Ocean on Iranian navy's first-ever mission there. The voyage comes amid an ongoing push by Iran to demonstrate the ability to project power across the Middle East and beyond.

The frigate Sabalan and the replenishment ship Kharq are dispatched on a three-month voyage.

“The warships will have task of securing shipping routes as well as training new personnel,” said IRIN Commander Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari. (Fars News Agency/AP, 21 January)

The ships, carrying some 30 naval academy cadets for training along with their regular crews, left the southern Iranian port of Bandar Abbas today. The navy did not disclose any ports of call.

Iran has regularly deployed warships to the Gulf of Aden off the eastern coast of Africa to fight piracy and protect commercial ships.

Photos: IRINS Sabalan (73) Alvand class (Vosper Mk5 type) frigate, and IRINS Kharq (431) Kharq (modified OL) class replenishment ship.

Photo credit: Fars News Agency

Iran Navy '27th Fleet' port of call Port Sudan

According to Tasnim News Agency:

The Iranian Navy's 27th fleet of warships docked in Port Sudan...the Navy announced on Wednesday.

The fleet of warships is comprised of Khark warship and Sabalan destroyer. Khark has 250 crewmembers and can carry three helicopters.

The Navy's public relations office said in a statement that the fleet docked in Port Sudan after conducting a month of naval mission in the regional waters and the Red Sea.

The statement added that the flotilla provided safe passage for 14 trade ships and oil tankers during its anti-piracy mission.

Latest IRIN task force comprising IRINS Sabalan (73) Alvand (Saam) class (Vosper Mk5 type) frigates, and IRINS Kharg (431) Kharg (modified OL) class replenishment ship.

File photo: IRINS Sabalan (73) frigate

File photo: IRINS Kharg (431) replenishment ship

Photos: FARS News Agency

Iran Navy Ships Leave China

Will Soon Dock at Colombo

Iran Navy ships IRINS Sabalan (73) frigate and IRINS Kharg (431) replenishment ship of the 24th Fleet task force today left the Chinese port city of Zhangjiagang, heading for the Strait of Malacca and will soon dock at the Port of Colombo in Sri Lanka, the Iranian navy announced today.

“This fleet is still present in the Pacific Ocean but will head for the Strait of Malacca and soon will dock at the Port of Colombo,” said Iran's Navy Commander Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari. (IRNA, 7 March)

Adm. Sayyari added that Iran will soon send its ships to the Atlantic Ocean as well.

“Iran’s presence in the Pacific Ocean is a prelude to [Iran’s] presence in the Atlantic Ocean”, said Sayyari.

Photo credit: Captured images from YouTube show IRINS Kharg at port of call Zhangjiagang, China (left) and Iranian naval officers saluting Chinese counterparts boarding the Iranian ship. 

Iranian Navy Ships Dock at Chinese Port

Peaceful Encounter with U.S.S Stockdale

Iranian Navy’s 24^th Fleet, comprising IRIS Sabalan (73), a frigate, and IRIS Kharg (431), a replenishment ship, docked in China's Zhangjiagang port on Monday, Iran Navy Deputy Commander Rear Admiral Siavash Jarreh said today. The ships sailed 13,000 kilometers from their base at Bandar Abbas. Their journey started on 20 January. (IRNA/Press TV, 4 March)

The Iranian admiral added a USS destroyer registered under hull number DDG106 (U.S.S Stockdale) came across Iran Navy's 24th fleet at the Strait of Malacca and asked for permission to approach it.

“Due to foul weather, the presence of the 24th fleet of Iran Navy at the [Malacca] Strait and the west of the Pacific Ocean surprised the US destroyer,” Adm. Jarreh added.

Top file photo: IRIS Sabalan (73), a frigate (Fars)
Bottom file photo: IRIS Kharg (431), a replenishment ship at Suez (IRNA)