Islamic Iran Starts Massive Naval Wargames in Int’l Waters

Iran’s naval forces started massive wargames in international waters in the Sea of Oman and the Indian Ocean on Saturday.

The naval maneuvers dubbed Velayat 90 are due to cover an area stretching from the East of the Strait of Hormuz in the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Aden for 10 days.

During the wargames, the Iranian naval forces will display their latest equipment, achievement and tactics.

Earlier, Navy Commander Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari had said that the exercises will manifest Iran’s military prowess and defense capabilities in the international waters, convey a message of peace and friendship to the regional countries, and test the newest military equipment among other objectives.

He said that the newest missile systems and torpedoes will be employed in the maneuvers, adding that the most recent tactics used in subsurface battles will also be demonstrated in the maneuvers.

Sayyari also said that Iranian destroyers, missile-launching vessels, logistic vessels, drones and coastal missiles will also be tested.

Iran stages several air, land and sea wargames each year to test its newly produced weapons and equipments.

In the last naval drills staged by the Iranian Army’s Navy Force, a six-staged naval maneuver, codenamed Velayat 89, was conducted in the Strait of Hormuz and Northern Indian Ocean in May 2010.

Spokesman of the military drills Admiral Qassem Rostamabadi announced at the time that the Iranian Navy deployed destroyers, missile-launchers, heavy and light submarines and flight units in specified areas and provided security of shipping lines during the drills.

The second phase of the wargames pertained to confrontation against chemical attacks of the enemy through using locally-made equipment, Admiral Rostamabadi added.

Also home-made systems were used to successfully confront enemy’s divers and guerillas who penetrated into Iranian coasts, the spokesman stated.