DUBAI - Iran will begin six days of naval drills in the Strait of Hormuz
at the end of this week, an Iranian naval commander said on Tuesday, an
exercise meant to showcase its military capabilities in what is a vital
oil and gas shipping route.
The "Velayat 91"
drills will be held from Friday to Wednesday across an area of about 1
million square kilometres in the Strait of Hormuz, the Gulf of Oman and northern parts of the Indian Ocean, said Habibollah Sayyari, according to Iranian media.
Iranian officials
have often said that Iran could block the strait - through which 40
percent of the world's sea-borne oil exports pass - if it came under
military attack over its disputed nuclear programme.
Iran held a similar
10-day drill last December and sent a submarine and a destroyer into
the Gulf four months ago at the same time as U.S. and allied navies were
conducting exercises in the same waters to practice keeping oil
shipping lanes open.
Sayyari was quoted as saying the new drill would test
the navy's missile systems, combat ships, submarines and patrol and
reconnaissance methods.
"In this exercise we will use the navy's newest weapons
and tactics," Sayyari said. "Certainly we will observe the marine
borders of neighbouring states and will carry out our exercises
according to international laws and regulations."
A heavy Western naval presence in the Gulf is meant to deter any attempt to block the waterway.
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