TEHRAN, June 10 (Xinhua) -- A senior Iranian military commander said on Thursday that two Iranian naval ships have entered the Atlantic Ocean for the first time.

The two ships, including the Makran port ship and a domestically-built Sahand destroyer which departed Iran's southern port of Bandar Abbas on May 10, have arrived at the Atlantic Ocean without calling at other countries' ports, said Deputy Iranian Army Coordinator Admiral Habibollah Sayyari.

"We consider our presence in international waters an inalienable strategic right of the Islamic Republic of Iran Navy, and we will continue on this path with strength," Sayyari was quoted by the state TV as saying.

The ships will continue their course toward the North Atlantic Ocean, making the country's longest maritime mission, said Sayyari.

Western media have reported that the destination for the Iranian ships is Venezuela.

On Wednesday, U.S. political news site Politico reported that "the Biden administration is urging Venezuela and Cuba to turn away two Iranian warships believed to be carrying arms intended for transfer to Caracas."

There is no immediate comments from the Iranian side on the claims. Enditem

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