Tehran to send warships equipped with missiles to the Atlantic by December
July 12, 2021, 2:14 am

Tehran to send warships equipped with missiles to the Atlantic by December

According to Sputnik, Navy commander Rear Admiral Hossein Khanzadi has revealed Iran’s Navy is set to take delivery of several new warships, including a domestically-developed missile-launching hovercraft, before the end of the year.

The Sputnik reported that Khanzadi said in a televised speech on Saturday “I have followed the construction plan of this hovercraft step-by-step and the Defence Ministry has promised to deliver this vessel – which is equipped with missiles, to the Navy by December."

The commander added that other ships, including the Damavand, a Moudge-class destroyer, and the the Konarak, a new warship of an unspecified class, would join the fleet by the fall.

Khanzadi further indicated that an unnamed long-range intelligence ship would go into service in the near future to complement Iran’s fledgling ocean-going capabilities, and said that an Iranian company had recently designed and built a new marine diesel engine for the Navy, expanding its self-sufficiency in this area.

Commenting on Iran’s first-ever deployment of a two-warship flotilla in the Atlantic Ocean this spring, the commander said that the deployment “sends a special message” about Iran’s support for the oppressed of the world.

Iran’s Sahand destroyer and the Makran support vessel set sail for the Atlantic Ocean in May, with US media reporting that the flotilla may be carrying arms to Venezuela and debating whether or not Washington has the legal right to deploy naval assets to try to stop it (turns out they cannot).

“By the way, our flotilla was present on the coast last week,” Khanzadi said, referring to a recent directive he said had been given by Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei to deploy Iranian ships off nations like Gambia, from which the US carried African slaves to America centuries ago.

“Of course, part of that presence is because the Americans said Iranians could not be present in the Atlantic,” the commander admitted, suggesting that “the United States is concerned that today, for the first time in Iran’s history, the gates of the Atlantic have been opened to us.”

“The Americans have set up bases around us over the years, and today they are terrified when we are 5,000 km away. This fear is because the presence of Iran breaks the hegemony of the United States,” the rear admiral said.

Israel Can Hope to Establish Maritime Presence Near Iran Only in a Dream

As for Iran’s maritime borders, Khanzadi stressed that their safety was assured and that it was not possible for any foreign vessel to establish a presence in the area without being monitored by the Iranian military –including its Navy and Air Force drones.

“For Israel to be present in our geography is like a dream and a mirage,” Khanzadi boasted, referring to Tehran’s long-time regional rivalry with Tel Aviv.

Source: sputnik

Image source: AP-sputnik

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the company’s headquarters in the Seef District.
During the meeting, shareholders approved all items listed on the agenda, including the ratification of the minutes of the previous AGM held on 26 March 2024. The session reviewed and approved the Board’s Annual Report on the company’s activities and financial performance for the fiscal year ended 31 December 2024, and the shareholders expressed their satisfaction with the company’s operational and financial results during the reporting period.
The meeting also reviewed the Independent External Auditor’s Report on the company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024. Subsequently, the shareholders approved the audited financial statements for the fiscal year. Based on the Board’s recommendation, the shareholders approved the distribution of a cash dividend equivalent to 10% of the paid-up share capital.
Furthermore, the shareholders endorsed the allocation of a total amount of BD 172,500 as remuneration to the members of the Board for the year ended 31 December 2024, subject to prior clearance by related authorities.
The extension of the current composition of the Board was approved, which includes ten members and one CBB observer, for a further six-month term, expiring in September 2025, pending no objection from the CBB.
The meeting reviewed and approved the Corporate Governance Report for 2024, which affirmed the company’s full compliance with the corporate governance directives issued by the CBB and other applicable regulatory frameworks. The AGM absolved the Board Members of liability for any of their actions during the year ending on 31st December 2024, in accordance with the Commercial Companies Law.
In alignment with regulatory requirements, the session approved the reappointment of Ernst & Young (EY) as the company’s External Auditors for the fiscal year 2025, covering both the parent company and its subsidiaries—Sinnad and Bahrain FinTech Bay. The Board was authorised to determine the external auditors’ professional fees, subject to approval from the CBB, and the meeting concluded with a discussion of any additional issues as per Article (207) of the Commercial Companies Law.
Speaking on the company’s performance, Mr. Mohamed Al Bastaki, Chairman BENEFIT , stated: “In terms of the financial results for 2024, I am pleased to say that the year gone by has also been proved to be a success in delivering tangible results. Growth rate for 2024 was 19 per cent. Revenue for the year was BD 17 M (US$ 45.3 Million) and net profit was 2 Million ($ 5.3 Million).

Mr. Al Bastaki also announced that the Board had formally adopted a new three-year strategic roadmap to commence in 2025. The strategy encompasses a phased international expansion, optimisation of internal operations, enhanced revenue diversification, long-term sustainability initiatives, and the advancement of innovation and digital transformation initiatives across all service lines.
“I extend my sincere appreciation to the CBB for its continued support of BENEFIT and its pivotal role in fostering a stable and progressive regulatory environment for the Kingdom’s banking and financial sector—an environment that has significantly reinforced Bahrain’s standing as a leading financial hub in the region,” said Mr. Al Bastaki. “I would also like to thank our partner banks and valued customers for their trust, and our shareholders for their ongoing encouragement. The achievements of 2024 set a strong precedent, and I am confident they will serve as a foundation for yet another successful and impactful year ahead.”
Chief Executive of BENEFIT; Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi commented, “The year 2024 represented another pivotal chapter in BENEFIT ’s evolution. We achieved substantial progress in advancing our digital strategy across multiple sectors, while reinforcing our long-term commitment to the development of Bahrain’s financial services and payments landscape. Throughout the year, we remained firmly aligned with our objective of delivering measurable value to our shareholders, strategic partners, and customers. At the same time, we continued to play an active role in enabling Bahrain’s digital economy by introducing innovative solutions and service enhancements that directly address market needs and future opportunities.”
Mr. AlJanahi affirmed that BENEFIT has successfully developed a robust and well-integrated payment network that connects individuals and businesses across Bahrain, accelerating the adoption of emerging technologies in the banking and financial services sector and reinforcing Bahrain’s position as a growing fintech hub, and added, “Our achievements of the past year reflect a long-term vision to establish a resilient electronic payment infrastructure that supports the Kingdom’s digital economy. Key developments in 2024 included the implementation of central authentication for open banking via BENEFIT Pay”
Mr. AlJanahi concluded by thanking the Board for its strategic direction, the company’s staff for their continued dedication, and the Central Bank of Bahrain, member banks, and shareholders for their valuable partnership and confidence in the company’s long-term vision.