TEHRAN A Japanese warship and a destroyer entered Iranian waters on Tuesday and landed in Bandar Abbas. An official military ceremony was held to welcome them.

The official in charge of the Army's naval forces, Captain Afshin Rezaei Haddad, said that the two warships carry 150 graduates of Japan's Naval Academy who have traveled to 13 countries in the past three months.

He said that the Japanese warships visited Abu Dhabi before coming to Iran, adding that the aim of their travels is to deliver the message of peace and friendship to other countries and to familiarize young Japanese officers with the cultures and characteristics of the inhabitants of regional countries.

Haddad also said that the crews of the warships are scheduled to stay in Iran for three days and to meet the governor general and the commander of the naval forces in Bandar Abbas, Hormozgan Province.

He added that they will also attend sports competitions and visit Isfahan and Qeshm during their stay in Iran.