Two Indian naval warships arrived in the southern port city of Bandar Abbas on a five-day visit, the Indian Embassy announced in a press release on Friday.
The mission described the move as part of a goodwill gesture "to further bilateral relations."
On the purpose of the visit, it said the ships, which are 125 meters in length with speeds up to 30 knots, will undertake "various professional interactions with their counterparts in the Iranian Navy, including exercises at sea."
"The visit would also include training and sports events between the navies of both countries."
"This deployment would add another chapter to the cordial relations and defense cooperation between India and Iran," it added.
The vessels, INS Betwa and INS Beas, are equipped with long range surface-to-surface missiles and anti-missile defense systems and are able to embark two multi-mission capable Sea King helicopters.
The visit is taking place in line with India's "national objective to ensure a secure and stable regional environment, which is conducive for economic and social development not just at home, but also in immediate and extended neighborhood," according to the press release.
"The Indian Navy, while shouldering its security responsibilities, is committed to these objectives and has been contributing towards humanitarian assistance, capacity building and capability enhancement of friendly foreign countries when so needed."
Pointing to centuries-old relations between Tehran and New Delhi, the embassy said cooperation between the two in, inter alia, commerce, energy, infrastructure and education has built on a great deal of commonality in their language, culture and traditions.
"Traditional close relations have also been further strengthened by regular cultural exchanges, commercial interactions as well as bilateral meetings and high profile visits between both countries" it said, adding, "Maritime security cooperation is an important area of cooperation between the two countries."
