“The Navy has envisaged extensive measures in this regard. For example, the naval forces have been stationed in areas such as Jask, Konarak and Pasabandar,” Sayyari said.
The Iranian commander pointed to the strategic importance of Iran’s Southeastern coasts, and said, “Iran's Makran coastline, stretching from the Strait of Hormuz to Pasabandar Port, can be considered as the most important coastline of the country due to its favorable geographical situation and its proximity to the ocean.”
In February, a conference titled 'Makran Coasts Development and the Islamic Republic of Iran's Might' was held in the Southeastern Iranian port of Chabahar.
The Iranian Navy commander reiterated that if Iran develops maritime industries in the Makran coastline then the region can turn into one of the most important coastal regions in the world.
Iran has extensive plans to develop multipurpose ports and build passenger terminals and wharfs across the country.
Despite the US-engineered sanctions against Iran, which have been illegally imposed under the pretext that Iran's nuclear energy program includes a military component, substantial investment has been made in Iranian ports, with approximately USD 3.2 billion reportedly allocated to about 150 projects.
In November 2012, Iranian Deputy Minister of Science for Research and Technology Mohammad Mehdi Nejad-Nouri announced that the country plans to include South Pole in its maritime researches in a five-year plan.
Nejad-Nouri pointed to the presence of many countries in the Antarctica for conducting research in the South Pole and using its resources, and said, "Iran's presence in the pole is necessary for our country's and the regional states' national interests; therefore, a five-year plan has been devised in order to expand our presence in the South Pole."
He reminded that Iran's sea borders in Northern and Southern parts of the country stretch for 6,000 km and as a "maritime power" it should be active in Antarctica research.
Iran has recently decided to expand its presence in the South Pole with the aim of conducting more research projects.
