Iranian Warships Heading To Panama Canal
(MENAFN- Newsroom Panama) Two Iranian warships have docked in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and are reported to be heading to transit the Panama Canal, a situation that put the United States government on alert and they see it as a sign of 'threat,' according to a State Department spokesperson says the Fox News television network. 'We are aware of these claims by the Iranian navy. We continue to monitor Iran's attempts to have a military presence in the Western Hemisphere,' the US spokesman said. According to the Tehran Times site, which is controlled by the Iranians, the 86 flotillas is already sailing off the coast of Latin America.
The flotilla consists of two ships named Dena and Makran. The first is a Mowj-class warship that has been part of Iran's navy since June 2021, equipped with anti-ship cruise missiles, torpedoes, and naval guns. While the second is a forward-based ship that weighs 121,000 tons, with the capacity to carry five helicopters, and is used to provide logistic support to combat warships, according to Tehran Times.
Meanwhile, Senator Marco Rubio expressed his concern about this situation for Fox News. 'Tehran's ability to expand its military presence in our hemisphere should be a warning sign, especially as it seeks to support leftist Marxist regimes that will undermine peace and stability throughout the region.'
MENAFN02022023000218011062ID1105516856
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.