Naval Flotilla Sets Sail for Kazakhstan

A naval flotilla of Iran's Caspian Sea fleet, comprising an indigenous destroyer and a missile-launching corvette, began a journey to Kazakhstan on Saturday as part of routine and friendly port calls. The Iranian naval watercraft, including Damavand destroyer and Paykan missile-launching corvette, set sail for Kazakhstan to "convey the message of peace and friendship", Tasnim News Agency reported. This is the first time an Iranian naval flotilla is visiting Kazakhstan. Iranian naval forces in the Caspian Sea have already paid visits to ports in Russia, Azerbaijan and Dagestan. Last month, an Iranian flotilla docked at Russia's port city of Makhachkala on a friendly visit. In October 2016, a Russian flotilla of warships arrived in Iran's Caspian Sea territorial waters near the northern port city of Bandar Anzali as part of reciprocal visits.