TEHRAN, April 21 (Xinhua) -- The Iranian capital Tehran will host the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) on April 22-25, Tasnim news agency reported on Saturday.
Iranian Navy Commander Rear Admiral Hossein Khanzadi said Saturday that navy commanders from 35 countries will attend an international conference due to open in Tehran on Sunday.
In addition to the IONS member states, some countries like the Caspian Sea littoral states will also take part in the gathering as the quests, Khanzadi was quoted as saying.
Bilateral meetings with navy chiefs of other countries on the sidelines of the conference is on the schedule of the Iranian navy, he said.
During the international event, the Iranian Navy will take over the presidency of the IONS for two years.
The IONS is a voluntary initiative that seeks to increase maritime co-operation among navies of the littoral states of the Indian Ocean Region by providing an open and inclusive forum for discussion of regionally relevant maritime issues.
