In a bid to expand its naval presence in the international waters, the Iranian Navy is planning to deploy troops in the Atlantic Ocean.
Iranian Navy Commander Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari announced that the country had plans to put its troops in the Atlantic Ocean soon.
"The Iranian Navy will definitely be present in the Atlantic Ocean in the near future," Admiral Sayyari told reporters on the sidelines of his meeting with foreign military attaches in Tehran, reports state-sponsored Fars News.
This is, however, not the first time that Iran has set its sight on deploying naval troops near the US maritime borders. Back in February, Iran had planned to send several warships along the US maritime borders in the Atlantic.
However, in April, after a tense week of diplomacy between American and Iranian representatives, Iran was forced to call off the deployment. The move was seen more as a threat taken in response to the US navy's presence in the Gulf, The Guardian had reported.
Rear Admiral Sayyari has once again renewed the push toward establishing an Iranian naval presence in the Atlantic Ocean. The report, however, noted that the Islamic Republic's overseas naval presence is meant to convey a message of peace and friendship to other countries.
Sayyari told the media that Iran was also planning on conducting reciprocal visits to other countries, including the coastal countries of the Indian Ocean and Africa. Also, exchanging naval visits and voyages are among the Navy's programs.
In recent years, Iran's Navy has been increasing its presence in international waters.
The Iranian Navy is currently involved in conducting anti-piracy patrols in the Gulf of Aden. Since November 2008, Iran has been active in the Gulf of Aden after Somali raiders hijacked the Iranian-chartered cargo ship, MV Delight, off the coast of Yemen.
