Commander: Iran, Oman to Stage Joint Naval Drills

IRGC related website (FNA), Iran and Oman plan to hold joint naval exercises in the next Iranian year (starting on March 20), the Surrogate Deputy Head of the Iranian Armed Forces' General Staff for Information and Operation, General Mostafa Salami, announced on Saturday.

"Iran and Oman have decided to stage joint naval relief and rescue drills in the Islamic Republic of Iran's territorial waters in the (Iranian calendar) month of Ordibehesht (from April 21 to May 21)," Salami told FNA.

He reiterated that the Iranian and Omani officials had also held some discussions on holding joint tactical exercises in addition to the aforementioned relief and rescue drills.

Salami underlined that the country is willing to hold joint military exercises with all the regional states in the near future.

The Iranian and Omani naval forces earlier this month staged their second joint exercises in the Gulf of Oman to boost readiness for relief services.

Four Omani vessels, two fighter planes and one coastal helicopter as well as four Iranian surface vessels participated in the joint drill.

The naval drill was aimed at enhancing readiness for providing relief services, rescue operations, and the level of regional cooperation and exchanging experience.

The joint naval drill coincided with the ninth session of the five-day joint military conference which opened on February 5 in the Omani capital Masqat.

Iran and Oman have expanded cooperation in a variety of areas such as economy and defense since Iran's President Ahmadinejad took office in 2005.

Later in August 2010, Iran and Oman signed an agreement to further boost mutual cooperation in the field of defense.

The document was signed by visiting Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Ahmad Vahidi and his Omani counterpart Sayyid Badr bin Saud bin Harib al-Busaidi in a meeting in Masqat.

According to the document, the two sides agreed to expand and deepen defensive ties, and stressed that such cooperation would help further boost lasting peace and security in the region.

The two countries also agreed on exchanging defense delegations and facilitated implementation of the agreements held by Iran-Oman military friendship committees.

They also agreed to pave the ground for holding joint military wargames.

In December, the Iranian parliament approved a bill that allows Tehran to implement an agreement on security cooperation and coordination with Oman.