Iran to Deploy Warships to Atlantic, Closer to US Waters

The Iranian frigate Alvand (R) docks in Port Sudan with supply ship Bushehr on May 6, 2014, one of a growing number of naval deployments outside the Gulf | AFP
The Iranian frigate Alvand (R) docks in Port Sudan with supply ship Bushehr on May 6, 2014, one of a growing number of naval deployments outside the Gulf | AFP
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Iran to Deploy Warships to Atlantic, Closer to US Waters

The Iranian frigate Alvand (R) docks in Port Sudan with supply ship Bushehr on May 6, 2014, one of a growing number of naval deployments outside the Gulf | AFP
The Iranian frigate Alvand (R) docks in Port Sudan with supply ship Bushehr on May 6, 2014, one of a growing number of naval deployments outside the Gulf | AFP

Iran is to send its newest warship to the Atlantic Ocean on a five-month mission -- the navy's longest in a decade, as the Republic seeks to increase the operating range of its naval forces to the backyard of the United States, its arch-foe.

"The navy has had a plan to deploy a flotilla to the Atlantic Ocean for a few years and now everything seems prepared to launch the mission," said Fars news agency, which is considered close to Iran's military.

Iran sees the presence of US aircraft carriers in the Gulf as a security concern and its navy has sought to counter that by showing the flag near American waters.

Rear Admiral Touraj Hassani told the official IRNA news agency on Friday that the mission would start early in the next Iranian year, which begins in late March.

“The Atlantic Ocean is far and the operation of the Iranian naval flotilla might take five months,” he said.

The flotilla will comprise the new guided missile frigate destroyer escort Sahand, which was unveiled just last month, and the recently upgraded 33,000-ton fuel ship Kharg.

The ships are among Iran's largest and both are capable of carrying helicopters.

Hassani said in December that Iran would soon send two to three vessels on a mission to Venezuela.



Zelenskiy Says Ukraine Has Secured Three Patriot Systems, Looking to Finance Seven More

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy attends the parliament session in Kyiv, Ukraine Thursday, July 17, 2025. (AP) 
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy attends the parliament session in Kyiv, Ukraine Thursday, July 17, 2025. (AP) 
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Zelenskiy Says Ukraine Has Secured Three Patriot Systems, Looking to Finance Seven More

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy attends the parliament session in Kyiv, Ukraine Thursday, July 17, 2025. (AP) 
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy attends the parliament session in Kyiv, Ukraine Thursday, July 17, 2025. (AP) 

Ukraine has received confirmation from partners that they will provide three Patriot missile defense systems and discussions are underway to obtain seven more, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Thursday.

"I have officially received confirmation from Germany for two systems, and from Norway for one. We are currently working with Dutch partners," he told reporters.

President Donald Trump announced earlier this month that billions of dollars of US weapons would go to Ukraine, including Patriot missiles. This set off negotiations around which partners could contribute to the weapons purchasing scheme -- a process that will determine the support Ukraine receives, Reuters said.

The Patriot systems have proven effective at destroying Russian ballistic missiles aimed at Ukraine's cities.

In addition to securing air defense supplies, Ukraine needs to cover a financing gap of $40 billion next year, Zelenskiy said in remarks released by his office.

An additional $25 billion will be needed for missiles, drones and electronic warfare systems production, he added.