He made the remarks in a Monday press conference held in Navy’s headquarters in Tehran.

“Based on negotiations with the Russian Navy, the force will dispatch a fleet to the southern regions of Iran this year,” he said but didn’t specify the exact date for the planned joint naval drills.

He went on to add that navies of Iran and Russia will continue cooperation in different operational, educational and technical fields, Mehr News Agency reported.

In Early January, Khanzadi said that the two countries were preparing for a joint naval drill in the Caspian Sea region and that war-games would be focused on tactical, relief and rescue and anti-piracy issues.

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