Islamic Iran urges regional states for joint wargames

IRI Navy Commander Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari has expressed the country’s willingness to engage in joint military maneuvers with regional countries.

In a televised interview late Saturday night, Sayyari added that though Iran’s military capabilities are greater than those of regional countries, it is important for regional nations to work together to maintain security in the region.

He noted that the 10-day Velayat 90 naval exercise was planned as a response to enemy threats and sanctions.

Iran’s Navy launched the Velayat 90 on December 24, 2011, which covered an area stretching from east of the Strait of Hormuz in the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Aden.

Diverse classes of submarines, including Tareq and Ghadir, the newest surface-to-sea missiles, and torpedoes were employed in the maneuvers.