Two Iranian warships have arrived in Mumbai for a goodwill and training visit, aiming to strengthen maritime cooperation and mutual friendship, the Indian Navy announced on Wednesday.

On Tuesday, the Mission Commander and the Commanding Officers of the two ships, IRIS Boushehr and IRIS Lavan, met Rear Admiral Vidyadhar Harke, Chief Staff Officer (Operations) at the Western Naval Command headquarters. The discussions covered shared interests and the training programs of both navies. The flotilla, with around 220 officer cadets on board, is on a training mission in the Indian Ocean. The Indian Navy gave them a warm welcome, complete with a band performance.

“The deployment is led by Captain Mohammad Saberi as Mission Commander, with Senior Captain Seyed Ali Madani commanding the Lavan and Commander Hamed Bahramian commanding the Boushehr,” the Indian Navy said. "The Iranian Navy's training flotilla, comprising IRIS Boushehr and IRIS Lavan, is on a goodwill and training visit to Mumbai from February 25 to 28, 2025," it added. To enhance Navy-to-Navy interactions, various activities have been planned, such as sports events and training visits to the Naval Dockyard for officer cadets. Highlighting the strong diplomatic relations between the two nations, the Indian Navy recently carried out a medical evacuation of a trainee officer from the IRIS Boushehr while at sea.

Around 3 AM on February 20, the Indian Navy and the Indian Coast Guard quickly responded to a request for medical assistance. An officer cadet was evacuated from the Iranian ship IRIS Boushehr and taken to INHS Asvini for immediate medical care. After receiving treatment, the cadet was discharged and returned to the Iranian ship when it arrived at the port on Tuesday, according to the Navy.

Over the years, India and Iran have strengthened their cooperation in various defense-related areas. “The visit by the Iranian ships further strengthens mutual friendship and is a significant step towards enhanced Navy-to-Navy cooperation in the maritime domain,” the Navy said.