Iranian MP: Joint naval drills between Iran and Oman will thwart plots to promote Iranophobia

An Iranian legislator says the new round of joint naval drills between Iran and Oman will thwart plots by Western powers to promote Iranophobia in the region.

Behrouz Ja’fari also said on Friday that Iran’s military might is merely based on the nation’s defense doctrine of deterrence and poses no threat to other countries.

He highlighted that maneuvers held either by Iranian Armed Forces or those staged with the participation of foreign military forces are defensive in nature. Ja’fari further noted that the forthcoming Iran-Oman naval exercises follow the same strategy.

Iran attaches paramount significance to the security establishment in the region, and believes that Middle East security could be best guaranteed by the efforts of the regional countries themselves, the Iranian lawmaker pointed out.

Deputy Head of Iran’s Armed Forces General Staff Brigadier General Mostafa Salami said on May 15 that Iran-Oman maritime maneuvers would be held sometime next January off the coast of Iran’s southern port city of Bandar Abbas, some 1560 kilometers (969 miles) south of the Iranian capital of Tehran.

Brigadier General Salami added that logistical support for Iranian warships docking at the Omani ports, joint naval relief and rescue drills, exchange of overseeing teams and admission of cadets were discussed during the talks between the Iranian and Omani military officials earlier this week.

Iran and Oman staged their second joint naval relief and rescue drill in February 2011. Four Omani vessels, two fighter jets and one maritime helicopter as well as four Iranian naval ships participated in the drill which aimed at enhancing readiness for providing relief services and rescue operations, and improving the level of regional cooperation.