Two Iranian warships transited the South Pacific, following a global deployment aimed at demonstrating the Islamic Republic’s military strength and maritime reach.
Key Point:
- The Pentagon says it is aware that two Iranian warships have been operating in the South Pacific “for some time.”
- The ships make up the Iranian Navy’s 86th Fleet, which left Iran at the end of September.
- Last year, two Chinese warships entered Australia’s exclusive economic zone after passing through Indonesia.
In November, an Iranian frigate accompanied by a converted oil tanker docked in Jakarta before heading to the Pacific, but neither vessel entered Australia’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
A defense spokesman confirmed that the Iranian vessel was being monitored by Australia while operating in the region.
“As part of Australia’s broader government-wide maritime border protection efforts, the Department of Defense regularly monitors maritime traffic near our exclusive economic zones and maritime approaches,” a spokesperson said. Told.
“The Pentagon has long been aware of two Iranian warships operating in the Indo-Pacific.”
Last February, two Chinese warships, also transiting Indonesia, entered Australia’s EEZ in the Arafura Sea before heading to the Pacific via the Torres Strait.
Unlike the Chinese warships, which aimed their powerful lasers at RAAF patrol planes, the Iranian warships left Indonesia and headed for the Philippine Sea rather than heading east through Australian waters.
“Iranian vessels have never entered Australia’s exclusive economic zone or passed through the Torres Strait. There was no communication with them,” a Pentagon spokesperson confirmed.
On Christmas Day, France’s Pacific Command said it had made contact with an Iranian ship after declaring its intention to pass just below the remote Marquesas Islands.
Falcon 200 reconnaissance planes monitored IRIS Dena and IRIS Makran approaching the EEZ of French Polynesia.
Maritime analysts told ABC there was no evidence Iranian warships made port calls in the Pacific, but believed the fleet also passed near the Solomon Islands.
Around the globe to show Tehran’s military might
Forward base ship IRIS Makran and frigate IRIS Dena form the 86th Squadron of the Iranian Navy and departed the Islamic Republic at the end of September for a historic global deployment.
Shortly after their departure, Iran’s naval chief declared that the warship would circumnavigate the globe during a mission to “show the whole world the authority of the dear Iranian people.”
Rear Admiral Shahram Irani said on state television in December that it was important for Iran to show its naval build-up.
“What matters in matters of presence at sea is authority…A presence at sea means power and authority,” the Navy Secretary explained.
“The first message sent by frigates and submarines is that the nations that built them have acquired the knowledge they need to rule the seas.”
The Navy Secretary also revealed that a voyage to Australia was one of his lifelong ambitions.
“I myself have been interested in experiencing new environments since I was a child, especially the sea,” the rear-admiral told Iranian state-run Press TV.
“My dream was to one day cross the Indian Ocean and reach Australia.”
Singapore-based geopolitical analyst Patrick Dupont said the presence of Iranian warships in the region of Australia was not surprising given recent statements from Tehran, and said further visits are likely. I am expecting
“It’s a well-known fact that Iran is an isolated and vulnerable group,” Dupont told ABC. “Basically they need friends in the Middle East as well as internationally.”
A former Australian Army analyst predicted that Iran’s “routine act of naval diplomacy” would continue, potentially becoming an annual operation.
“The Iranian navy will certainly continue to develop. I don’t think they will cut military spending. Of course, they will test their own ships,” he said.
“They want to know how far they can go, but in reality their focus will always be on the Persian Gulf, and that will be their main effort in terms of naval strategic planning.”
