Iran, Sudan agree to boost naval cooperation

Source : Xinhua

TEHRAN, May 9 (Xinhua) -- Iranian Navy Commander Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari said Thursday that Iran and Sudan have agreed to boost naval cooperation, official IRNA news agency reported.

In a meeting with his visiting Sudanese counterpart, Dalil a- Daw Muhammad Fadhlallah, Sayyari said that given the two countries strategic status, they can enjoy closer collaboration.

Sayyari invited Sudanese technical and educational teams to visit Iran's marine centers, voicing Iran's readiness to train Sudanese naval forces in Iran's northern Nowshahr Marine Sciences University, said the report.

Unity between the two countries' forces will be effective in confronting their common enemies, he was quoted as saying.

For his part, Sudanese navy commander said that he believes cooperation of the naval forces of the two countries can safeguard the security of international and regional waters including the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait.

He expressed hope that cooperation between the two countries' naval forces will expand.

His visit to the Islamic republic is in line with promoting strategic ties between the two states, he said, noting that during his visit, an agreement was signed between the two countries, under which Sudan will buy equipment from Iran in a bid to protect security of the Sudanese coastlines.

The also signed agreement to jointly establish security in the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait and Gulf of Aden, according to the report.