Naval Flotilla Visiting Russia

An Iranian naval flotilla, comprising the homegrown Damavand destroyer and Paykan missile-launching vessel, berthed at Russia's coastal city of Makhachkala, the capital of the Republic of Dagestan, on Saturday. The commander of the Iranian naval flotilla is to confer with Russian naval commanders and President of the Republic of Dagestan Vladimir Vasilev during its stay in Makhachkala, Tasnim News Agency reported. The naval vessels had set sail for the Russian port on the Caspian Sea on Oct. 14. Commander of the Navy's Caspian flotilla, Admiral Ahmad Reza Baqeri, said at a see-off ceremony in the northern port city of Bandar Anzali that the main goal of the trip is to convey "the message of peace and friendship" of the Iranian people and government to Russia's Dagestan. Navy Commander Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari had announced that the naval flotilla would return to Iran after a three-day trip and a one-day joint military exercise with the Russian Navy aimed at exchanging experiences and displaying the power of Iranian Navy.