Iran sends warships into the Atlantic

Iran’s Navy began its first deployment to the Atlantic Ocean on Tuesday, according to local news reports. 

Iran’s semi-official news outlet, Fars News Agency, reported that Iran sent a navy flotilla consisting of a logistic helicopter carrier and Sabalan destroyer to the Atlantic Ocean on Tuesday, and would travel some 23,000 miles over the next three months.  

{mosads}“The warships will have the task of securing shipping routes as well as training new personnel,” Fars quoted Iran’s navy commander Admiral Habibollah Sayyari as saying. 

The ships are carrying some 30 navy academy cadets for training along with regular crews, the Associated Press reported. 

According to the Diplomat, Sayyari has previously threatened in 2011 to deploy warships off the Atlantic Coast of the U.S., saying, “Like the arrogant powers that are present near our marine borders, we will also have a powerful presence close to American marine borders. 

The U.S. Navy maintains a carrier in the Persian Gulf region. The USS Harry Truman is currently on a port visit in the Gulf.