Iran Navy to hold war game in intl. waters

Tehran Times

TEHRAN – The Navy commander says Iran plans to hold a major naval war game in the Sea of Oman and the north of the Indian Ocean in the near future.

The war game, codenamed Velayat 90, differs from previous ones in terms of the vastness of the area of action and military equipment and tactics that would be employed in maneuvers, Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari said during a press conference on Saturday.

The war game will display Iran’s defensive and deterrent naval power, he said.

He also said that the Navy will take delivery of three domestically manufactured light submarines of the Ghadir class on November 28, which falls on the National Navy Day.

Commenting on the United States’ joint war games with certain regional countries, he said such moves are “psychological warfare”, which could not help improve security in the region.

He also advised regional countries to try to stand on their own feet because holding joint military exercises with arrogant powers will not enhance their military capability.

On the missions of the Iranian Navy’s fleets of warships in international waters, Sayyari said that 16 fleets of warships have been dispatched to open seas over the past two years.

Iranian warships have so far escorted 1300 merchant ships and oil tankers in the north of the Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Aden and came out on top in more than 100 clashes with pirate ships and foiled many ship hijacking attempts, he explained.

The Navy plans to equip its warships, which go on missions in international waters, with most advanced weapons to upgrade their combat capability, he added.