Iran rejects reports of blocking Strait of Hormuz during naval drills

The spokesman for the Iranian Navy’s Velayat 91 specialized naval exercise has rejected Western media reports about Iran’s plans to block the Strait of Hormuz during the maneuver.

In response to the media reports about the Navy’s warnings to foreign vessels, Rear Admiral Amir Rastegari said on Saturday, “The Navy has issued no warnings. In accordance with the international norms, announcements should be sent for the information of the ships passing by during any military drill in order to prevent any potential damages.”

Rastegari noted that such announcements are issued to provide the security of the nearby commercial and naval vessels at certain times when the war games are underway.

On Saturday, Iran’s Navy started the second day of Velayat 91 in a vast area to display the country’s capabilities to defend its maritime borders and maintain durable peace in the region.

The six-day maritime maneuvers, launched on Friday, are carried out in the Strait of Hormuz, the Sea of Oman, north of the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Aden and Bab-el-Mandeb Strait.

On the first day of the massive drill, a fleet of surface and subsurface vessels were sent to the location of the exercise.

The Islamic Republic has repeatedly assured other nations, especially neighbors, that its military might poses no threat to other countries, insisting that its defense doctrine is based on deterrence.