TEHRAN, Iran – Iran plans to expand its naval presence in international waters as part of efforts to boost its military and extend its reach as far as Antarctica, the head of the country's navy said Saturday.

The comments from Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari reflect Iran's aspirations to transform its navy into a force capable of sustained operations in the open ocean. They also are seen as a response to America's beefed-up naval deployment near the Islamic Republic's coasts in the Persian Gulf. The U.S. Navy's 5th fleet is based in Bahrain – across the gulf from Iran.

"We have the capability to hoist Iran's flag in different regions from the North Poles to the South Pole and we are preparing plans for a presence near the South Pole," state Press TV quoted Sayyari as saying. "However, we will never enter the maritime borders of others and we will not allow anybody to enter even a centimeter into our territorial waters."