Posted on Apr 7, 2023
Iranian Navy Surface Action Group Docked in South Africa, Satellite Photos Reveal - USNI News
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Iran’s two-ship surface action group was spotted this week in port in Cape Town, South Africa, after failing to transit the Panama Canal, according to satellite images provided to USNI News by Maxar.
IRIS Makran and IRIS Dena were spotted in port on April 4 after completing an Atlantic transit after operating off the east coast of South America.
The pair of ships have been on a worldwide tour since last year, sailing from Iran through the Indian Ocean, South China Sea, around Cape Horn to the Atlantic Ocean and arrived off the coast in South America early in January.
Last month, Iranian state media played up an expanded economic relationship with South Africa that included plans to open a new economic development office.
Makran, a converted oil tanker, has operated as an oiler for the group, allowing the two ships to operate far-extended stretches between port calls.
IRIS Makran and IRIS Dena were spotted in port on April 4 after completing an Atlantic transit after operating off the east coast of South America.
The pair of ships have been on a worldwide tour since last year, sailing from Iran through the Indian Ocean, South China Sea, around Cape Horn to the Atlantic Ocean and arrived off the coast in South America early in January.
Last month, Iranian state media played up an expanded economic relationship with South Africa that included plans to open a new economic development office.
Makran, a converted oil tanker, has operated as an oiler for the group, allowing the two ships to operate far-extended stretches between port calls.
Iranian Navy Surface Action Group Docked in South Africa, Satellite Photos Reveal - USNI News
Posted from news.usni.org
Iran
Cape Town
Posted 1 y ago
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
..."It’s the second time in two years Makran has been part of a high-visibility deployment. In 2021, the ship and the frigate IRINS Sahand deployed to the Baltic Sea after sailing around the southern tip of Africa.
The ships made a port call in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in February under protest from the U.S. government.
Shortly before the port visit, U.S. officials targeted the ships for sanctions as part of an ongoing effort to punish Iran’s lethal drone for supplying the Russian military with drones for its invasion of Ukraine.
IRIS Makran and IRIS Dena in port in Cape Town, South Africa on April 4, 2023 Satellite image ©2021 Maxar Technologies used with permission
“Iranian entities continue to produce UAVs for Iran’s IRGC and military. More broadly, Iran is supplying UAVs for Russia’s combat operations to target critical infrastructure in Ukraine,” said Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian Nelson in a statement. “The United States will continue to aggressively target all elements of Iran’s UAV program.”
The deployment was set to push boundaries for the Iranian Navy, which has been slowly expanding its worldwide presence.
The arrival of the Makran and Dena in South Africa follows promises by the Iranian military that Iranian Navy ships would transit the Panama Canal this year."...
..."It’s the second time in two years Makran has been part of a high-visibility deployment. In 2021, the ship and the frigate IRINS Sahand deployed to the Baltic Sea after sailing around the southern tip of Africa.
The ships made a port call in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in February under protest from the U.S. government.
Shortly before the port visit, U.S. officials targeted the ships for sanctions as part of an ongoing effort to punish Iran’s lethal drone for supplying the Russian military with drones for its invasion of Ukraine.
IRIS Makran and IRIS Dena in port in Cape Town, South Africa on April 4, 2023 Satellite image ©2021 Maxar Technologies used with permission
“Iranian entities continue to produce UAVs for Iran’s IRGC and military. More broadly, Iran is supplying UAVs for Russia’s combat operations to target critical infrastructure in Ukraine,” said Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian Nelson in a statement. “The United States will continue to aggressively target all elements of Iran’s UAV program.”
The deployment was set to push boundaries for the Iranian Navy, which has been slowly expanding its worldwide presence.
The arrival of the Makran and Dena in South Africa follows promises by the Iranian military that Iranian Navy ships would transit the Panama Canal this year."...
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel good day Brother William, always informational and of the most interesting. Thanks for sharing, have a blessed day!
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No money for the Panama Canal access fees? I wondered if they visited Maduro in Venezuela to buy oil? They sure took the scenic route. They do not believe in C02 mitigation. I bet that Climate Change mitigation is not on their priority list. They care less!
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