Fmr. Iranian Navy Commander General Habibollah Sayyari: "Captain Phillips" Inspired by Iranian Operation; We Have Been Present in Int'l Waters Since 2008

Iranian General Habibollah Sayyari, the Deputy Army Chief for Coordination Affairs and former commander of the Iranian navy, said during a February 5, 2019 interview on Channel 4 TV (Iran) that Iran has been present in international waters since 2008, when the Supreme Leader gave the order to do so. He added that Iran rescued a Chinese ship from pirates in 2012 and that the operation inspired the Hollywood movie "Captain Phillips."

Following are excerpts:

General Habibollah Sayyari: Ever since 2008, when the Leader gave us the order, we have had a presence in international waters. When we were present in the Indian Ocean, we also passed through the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, the Red Sea, and the Suez Canal – all the way to the Mediterranean Sea. You should check out how foreign commentators analyzed our presence there.

Interviewer: How did they analyze it?

General Habibollah Sayyari: For them, it was inconceivable that the Islamic Republic of Iran could acquire the capability to be present in the Mediterranean Sea.

[…]

Later, we were present in the Pacific Ocean. In 2012, we were present in the Pacific Ocean and in the South China Sea. Who says that only now we want to be present in the oceans? We have been present in the South Indian Ocean. We went around Capetown and entered the Atlantic Ocean.

[…]

In 2008, the Gulf of Aden was attacked by pirates. The International Maritime Organization asked any capable country to be present there and to provide security for the international trade. We were present there. We were among the first nations to be present there.

[…]

In 2012, following a request by the Chinese government, we freed a Chinese ship that had been hijacked and taken to the shore of Somalia.

[…]

The film “Captain Phillips,” produced by the Americans, was inspired by our operation.

Interviewer: Wow.