Iran To Hold Naval War Games In Gulf

An Iranian boat fires a missile as it takes part in naval war games in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz last month.

A top commander says Iran's navy will start eight days of war games in the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman.

The May 5 exercises will come less than two weeks after the country's Revolutionary Guards held four days of maneuvers in the Persian Gulf, the Sea of Oman, and the strategic oil route of the Strait of Hormuz.

Habibollah Sayari, Iran's navy commander, told Iran's official Arab-language Al-Alam TV the exercises would "display the Iranian navy's defense capabilities."

Iran's armed forces regularly conduct such drills and often test-fire domestically produced missiles during these exercises.

compiled from agency reports