Iran (IMNA) - Major General Mohammad Hossein Baqeri made the statements on Sunday while speaking during the flotilla's formal homecoming ceremony in the southern Iranian port city of Bandar Abbas.
He described the flotilla, which included a domestically built Dena destroyer and a Makran forward base ship, as a source of pride for the Iranian people and a watershed moment in the country's naval history.
According to Baqeri, one of the most important components of our nation's military might is its maritime power.
"We have all we need to realize this objective and are fortunate to have domestic industry [and skills] for it. Our intrepid and heroic marines and commanders carry out maritime tasks.
The senior general declared that the Iranian Navy's exceptional action in completing this challenging assignment marks the beginning of a new era for the Iranian Armed Forces, adding that "The 86th flotilla of the Navy fulfilled a historic mission." Even powerful nations throughout the world lack the confidence to embark on such a [difficult] assignment.
He pointed out that during the height of the sanctions, the Iranian Navy undertook the task while relying on the Makran forward base ship and the Dena destroyer.
"Our soldiers navigated a treacherous path. Our soldiers accomplished such a feat through faith, commitment, and patriotism, the top general stressed, emphasizing that the only way to retain dignity is through the route of strength.
Iranian naval power was demonstrated in oceans and high seas.
Rear Admiral Shahram Irani, the commander of the Islamic Republic of Iran Navy, said that his force had developed and enlarged its strategic depth, foresight in maritime capability, and regional identity and influence by its deployment to the high seas and successful completion of the protracted naval operation.
According to Irani, Iranian marines, led by Commander-in-Chief of the Iranian Armed Forces Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, used contemporary technology and know-how for the first time to deliver a message of peace and goodwill.
The 86th flotilla, which departed from the southern tip of Iran in early October, returned home on Saturday after traveling around the world. It now holds the title for the Iranian armada's longest voyage in international waters.
Senior Iranian officials and commanders applauded the flotilla's return, including Ayatollah Khamenei, who commended the "courageous forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran Army's 86th flotilla of warships on their great and successful voyage."
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