December 23, 2011 - 10:50 AMT
Iran to hold naval wargames in international waters

Senior Iranian Army officials announced on Thursday, December 22, that the country's naval forces would start massive wargames in international waters in the Sea of Oman and the Indian Ocean on Saturday.

Iranian Navy Commander Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari told a press conference that the naval maneuvers dubbed Velayat 90 will start on Saturday and will cover an area stretching from the east of the Strait of Hormuz in the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Aden.

According to Sayyari, this is the first time that Iran's Navy carries out naval drills in such a vast area.

He added the exercises will manifest Iran's military prowess and defense capabilities in the international waters, convey a message of peace and friendship to regional countries, and test the newest military equipment among other objectives of the drills.

Rear Admiral Sayyari said that the newest missile systems and torpedoes will be employed in the maneuvers, adding that the most recent tactics used in subsurface battles will also be demonstrated in the maneuvers.

He also said that Iranian destroyers, missile-launching vessels, logistic vessels, drones and coastal missiles will also be tested, Fars News Agency reported.