Russian Flotilla Docks in Caspian Port

A Russian naval flotilla arrived in Iran’s northern port city of Bandar Anzali on Wednesday as part of programs intended to boost military cooperation between the two countries. The Russian Makhachkala flotilla, under the command of Captain Dmitriov, berthed at Bandar Anzali for a three-day port call, Tasnim News Agency reported.

The personnel of the Russian military vessels were received by ranking Iranian Navy commanders in the port city. It is the fifth Russian naval flotilla visiting the Iranian Caspian port over the past decade.

The Russian naval forces will return home on Saturday after meeting local officials and military commanders, and visiting monuments of Bandar Anzali. Iran and Russia have formed a strong alliance in recent years, with their naval vessels making regular “friendly port calls”. In March, an Iranian naval flotilla, comprising a homegrown Damavand destroyer and Darafsh missile-launching vessel, visited Russia’s coastal city of Makhachkala, the capital city of the Republic of Dagestan, for an unofficial visit.