Iran to Send Flotilla of Warships, Destroyer to Russian Territorial Waters

Iranian military officials stated that they are planning to send a fleet of warships to Russia in the near future.

A fleet of Iranian warships will soon cross Russian territorial waters, FNA reported, referring to a statement by representatives of the Iranian Navy made on Saturday.

"Destroyer Damavand will be sent to Russia in the form of a flotilla of warships," Admiral Afshin Rezayee Haddad, Commander of Iran's Northern Navy Fleet, said on Saturday.

Earlier, the Russian Navy fleet crossed Iranian territorial waters and berthed off the country’s coast. The commander of the Russian fleet met with Iranian military representatives and both countries organized joint naval drills.

The move was aimed at enhancing friendly relations between the two countries and was viewed as a "sign of peace and friendship." Tehran was invited by Russia to a reciprocal step: the fleet of warships will be sent to Russia's Astrakhan port in the near future.

Over the past few years, Iran has made a lot of progress in its military sector and adjusted manufacturing of essential military equipment.

Iranian authorities repeatedly stated that the development and modernization of its military sector should not be perceived as a threat by other countries as it serves only defensive purposes, FNA reported.