New Delhi: Navy chief Sunil Lanba has begun a five-day visit to Iran with an aim of deepening naval engagement with Iran and to participate in a meet of major naval powers of the region.
Leading a four-member delegation, admiral Lanba will be attending the sixth edition of the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) and also the Conclave of Chiefs that will take place in Tehran from April 23 to 25.
What started as an Indian initiative in 2008, the IONS has grown into a major naval forum of the region with 23 countries as members and nine nations as observers.
“The visit of the chief of the naval staff is also aimed at consolidating bilateral naval relations between India and Iran and to explore new avenues for naval cooperation,” it said in a statement.
Admiral Lanba will also hold bilateral discussions with the Commander of Iranian Navy and Navy chiefs of several other nations on the sidelines of IONS.
