Iran: Tehran eyes up overseas naval bases in Syria, Yemen

In what will be seen as a deeply concerning development by Saudi Arabia and its allies, Iran has floated the idea of setting up permanent naval basis in Yemen and Syria. The idea was suggested by Iranian Armed Forces chief-of-staff General Mohammad Hossein Baqeri in a speech to senior navy commanders in Tehran on 26 November. “One day, we may need [naval] bases on the coasts of Yemen and Syria,” he said, in remarks carried by the local Tasnim News Agency. “We can set up fixed platforms in the Persian Gulf, and have floating platforms elsewhere.”