News - Middle East: Iranian Navy Commander Rear Admiral Shahram Irani has praised the Persian Gulf security, stressing that his force escorts the country’s ships and oil tankers in the Gulf of Aden and the Atlantic Ocean to ensure their safety.

Irani made the remarks on the occasion of the Persian Gulf Day, annually celebrated on April 29 or 30, which represents Iran’s anti-hegemonic stance and dismissal of futile attempts by certain regional countries to rename the strategic body of water.

The day also coincides with the anniversary of the expulsion of the Portuguese Navy from the Strait of Hormuz in 1622.

Pointing to the Iranian Navy’s plans to secure the Persian Gulf and escort Iranian oil tankers, Irani said, “The Persian Gulf is regarded as the world's most secure maritime region today, and we basically escort our ships in areas such as the Gulf of Aden and the Atlantic Ocean.”

The top commander underlined, “We escort our ships in the areas where the enemies of the Islamic Republic of Iran are present, and our ... sailors and merchants meet the country's economic needs in complete safety."

Irani also described the Persian Gulf as a symbol of the country's power, and said Iranians proved their naval prowess in the strategic waterway in less than 67 days after the beginning of the 1980s war between Iran and Iraq.

The commander said the security of Iran's ports was fully ensured during the Iraqi-imposed war, which resulted in consecutive victories by the country's armed forces.

The Persian Gulf — which spans some 251,000 square kilometers — is bounded by the Arvand River in the north, which forms the frontier between Iran and Iraq, and the Strait of Hormuz in the south, which links the Persian Gulf to the Sea of Oman and the Indian Ocean.

The strategic inland sea is an international trade route connecting the Middle East to Africa, India, and China.

Source: Press TV