A Russian destroyer has docked at the Iranian southern port of Bandar Abbas, Tehran Times daily reported on Thursday.

The Russian Marshal Shaposhnikov destroyer docked at the Iranian port on Wednesday, the public relations department of the Iranian Navy announced.

Iranian Rear Admiral Hossein Azad was quoted as saying that the destroyer's presence at the Iranian port aims at strengthening military relations between Iran and Russia.

Iran's Navy Commander Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari said in February that the naval forces of a number of neighboring countries had expressed desire to send fleets to Iran and Tehran was ready to welcome them, according to Press TV.

Sayyari said that exchanging naval fleets with other countries helped increase cooperation and mutual understanding.