IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
Tehran, Feb 21, IRNA -- Iran’s first indigenously-made destroyer, Jamaran, left local waters Sunday morning in southern Iran for open seas on its first mission two days after being launched in a ceremony attended by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
The helicopter-carrying destroyer was designed and manufactured by experts of the Army’s naval force.
According to Brigadier General Fariborz Qader-Panah, Jamaran is to protect national interests and security both inside and outside the Iranian waters.
The ship is also capable of safeguarding security of all vessels crossing the strategic waterway of the Persian Gulf and the Hormuz Straight, said the commander of Army’s first naval zone.
According to Iran’s Constitution, navy forces are allowed to carry out patrolling missions and monitor movements of all military units inside and outside the region.
Iran has announced that building of the destroyer was aimed at safeguarding security of the Persian Gulf region.
Launching the Jamaran Destroyer, placed Iran among the world’s 14 countries which are capable of manufacturing and designing destroyers and cruisers.
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End News / IRNA / News Code 970798
http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/library/news/iran/2010/iran-100221-irna04.htm