Progress in Indo-Iran Naval Cooperation

Indian Navy Commander Admiral Sunil Lamba and Iran’s Deputy Defense Minister Brigadier General Qassem Taqizadeh expressed satisfaction at the growing bilateral cooperation in military and other sectors.

“Tehran-New Delhi relations have made great progress over the past few years,” Lamba said in a meeting Wednesday with Taqizadeh in Tehran on the sidelines of a conference on naval cooperation and international issues in Tehran--the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium 2018.

“Ties between the two militaries have expanded and their naval fleets have exchanged many port calls,” the navy chief said, IRNA reported. Taqizadeh said Iran attaches importance to its relations with India, adding, “Given India’s buoyant economy and its military and scientific advancements, it has a special place in the Islamic Republic of Iran’s foreign policy.” The IONS is a voluntary initiative that seeks to promote maritime co-operation among navies of the littoral states of the Indian Ocean Region by providing an open and inclusive forum for discussion of regional maritime issues.