In this file photo released on May 22, 2019, by the official website of the office of the Iranian supreme leader, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, as he speaks to a group of students in Tehran, Iran. (AP)

Iranian Leader Seyyed Ali Khamenei has hailed the round-the-globe mission by the Iranian Navy’s 86th flotilla.

Khamenei made the remarks on Sunday while speaking to the commanders, crews, and families of the Iranian Navy's 86th flotilla, which completed its circumnavigation and entered Iranian territorial waters in May.

The presence of the Navy in remote waters such as the Pacific and Atlantic oceans, according to the Leader, contributes to national security.

"The United States and other superpowers monopolize general issues pertaining to mankind. If they could, those powers would even claim the seas in their name so that others would not have access to the natural resource," Khamenei stated, adding that "by your presence and your vigilance in countering their hostile behavior in order to thwart your voyage, you proved that the high seas belong to all."

The Leader referred to the obstacles erected by the United States in maritime transportation, stating that it made no sense for them to claim that ships would not be allowed to pass through certain straits, stating that "the sea and the air must be free for all nations and security of shipping and maritime transport must be ensured for all."

Khamenei chastised the US for targeting oil tankers and assisting smugglers in the region and beyond, saying such actions violate international humanitarian norms.

In other remarks, the Leader stated that the 86th flotilla's successful mission was the result of "hard work, determination, self-confidence, advanced military know-how, efficient management, and courage as well as endurance in the face of difficulties."

The flotilla, which included a Dena destroyer and a domestically-built Makran forward base ship, was honored by the Leader.

Khamenei said the flotilla's sailing of virtually 65,000 kilometers in about eight months was "unprecedented in the history of Iranian seafaring," adding that, "The profound job done by the flotilla should not be taken for granted and seen as merely a military and naval operation given the invaluable lessons learned from the voyage."

He said that by accomplishing the mission that the 86th flotilla "elevated the level of the country's military capabilities."

Given that nearly 90 percent of global trade is conducted via maritime transport. According to the Leader, Iranian officials must work to improve the use of the Islamic Republic's maritime capabilities in order to serve national interests.