The Iranian Navy will not allow the countries that do not belong to the Indian Ocean region to disturb the peace and order of the area, Sayyari said on Sunday.
He added that the extra-regional countries are after their own objectives and ultimately disturb peace and order in the region under the pretext of having strategic interests there.
Sayyari further underlined that free waters belong to all countries and everyone has an equal share in benefiting from international waters.
The Iranian commander further said that the measures taken by Iran’s Navy in the Indian Ocean are aimed at maintaining security in the region and conveying the message of peace and friendship to the regional countries.
Iran's Navy has been expanding its naval presence in the international waters since last year, deploying vessels to the Indian Ocean. The Islamic Republic dispatched two ships via the Suez Canal to the Mediterranean for the first time in February 2011.
In addition, in line with the international efforts to combat piracy, the Iranian Navy has been conducting anti-piracy patrols in the Gulf of Aden since November 2008 to safeguard the vessels involved in maritime trade, especially the ships and oil tankers owned or leased by Iran.
The Gulf of Aden, which links the Indian Ocean with the Suez Canal and the Mediterranean Sea, is the quickest route for thousands of vessels traveling annually between Asia, Europe and the Americas.
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