Iran to hold joint naval drills with neighbors

Iranian Navy Commander Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari unveiled plans for joint naval exercise with the regional countries, Tasnim reports.

Iran’s Navy will “definitely” hold joint war games with regional countries, the top commander told reporters in Tehran on July 1, during rallies marking the International Quds Day.

He also noted that the Navy has plans to hold 20 specialized drills in the current Iranian year (to end in March 2017), to exercise tactics in relation to missiles, vessels and submarines, commando units and electronic warfare.

Sayyari then noted that result of those 20 drills will be displayed at one major war game, codenamed Velayat-95, due to be held in winter.

Naval drills are not rare in Iran’s southern waters, in the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman and around the strategic Strait of Hormuz, and are held regularly on an annual basis, usually around the end of the Gregorian calendar.

Iran has repeatedly clarified that its military might is merely based on the nation’s defense doctrine of deterrence and poses no threat to other countries.