IRAN HOLDS MAJOR NAVAL DRILL IN 2 MILLION SQUARE KILOMETERS AREA

© AFP 2016/ EBRAHIM NOROOZI / JAMEJAM ONLINE

The Iranian Navy started major drills in the northern part of the Indian ocean on Sunday.

The drills code-named Velayat 95 were set to take place in in the Strait of Hormuz, the Gulf of Oman, the Bab el-Mandab and northern parts of the Indian Ocean in an area of million square kilometers.

“The aim of the Velayat 95 drill is to upgrade the country’s defensive capabilities and send Iran’s message of peace and friendship to the regional countries,” PressTV quoted Navy Commander Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari.

The drills include missile tests, intelligence operations, deployment of submarines and rescue operations and involve a range of naval equipment including submarines and helicopters manufactured in Iran.

Earlier this month, then-US National Security Advisor Michael Flynn said that “Iran had been put formally on notice” after Iran launched a ballistic missile. Then US President Trump tweeted that “Iran is playing with fire,” promising that he won’t be as “kind as Obama”. In turn, Iranian Foreign Minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, blasted the US, saying Tehran remains “unmoved” by threats.

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