Iranian submarine returns home

          Iran’s domestically-manufactured submarine "Yunis" returned to Tehran after a 66-day mission in international waters. The Yunis accompanied Iran's 14th Fleet on a mission that took it to the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea. Naval official Ahmad Reza Baqeri said that the presence of the Yunis submarine along with the 14th fleet, which is comprised of Naqdi destroyer and Bandar Abbas warship, "Has demonstrated the Iranian Navy’s military power and astonished extra-regional powers." Once the Navy studies and assesses the results of the recent voyage, he added, it consider deploying submarines in the far seas again, if necessary. The Yunis commander, Hussein Hariri, said the submarine traveled some 3,800 nautical mile and that "it was successful in registering a large number of underwater vessels." Iranian Navy Commander Habibollah Sayyari meanwhile, said that Iran’s military capabilities do not pose any threat to any country, adding that that Iran’s Navy is ready to hold joint maneuvers with other countries. The submarine's official mission was to ward off Somali pirates who threaten Iranian merchant ships.(12,42)