07 December 2013

News Story: Iranian Warships Visit Mumbai Harbor


By VIVEK RAGHUVANSHI

NEW DELHI — Two Iranian warships and a submarine docked in Mumbai harbor Dec. 5 for a three-day goodwill visit, an Indian Navy official said.

The warships, including a destroyer, a helicopter-carrying tanker and a Kilo-class submarine, docked in the civil area of the Mumbai harbor and not in the area designated for the Indian Navy. The two Iranian warships and the Russian-built submarine are scheduled to proceed to Sri Lanka Dec. 7.

The last time Iranian Navy warships were in India was in 2009, and joint maneuvers were conducted in 2006.

Indo-Iran defense ties had been halted by the US-led sanctions against Iran for pursuing a nuclear weapon program.

The Iranian flotilla arrived in India at a time when there is an easing of tension between Iran and world powers.

Read the full story at DefenseNews