Iran, Oman naval drills good model for regional maneuvers

An Iranian lawmaker says the recent joint rescue and relief drills staged by Iran and Oman in the Persian Gulf can set a good model for military exercises by other regional countries.

According to Press TV, Seyyed Baqer Hosseini, member of Iran Majlis National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, said on Wednesday that the drills, conducted in Iran’s territorial waters south of Hormuz Island on January 22, can pave the way for effective cooperation among Persian Gulf littoral states to provide security in the strategic waterway.
Hosseini added that regional states should work together to maintain security in the Persian Gulf and the entire Middle East.
The lawmaker further noted that Iranian officials have frequently stressed the need for convergence among Persian Gulf littoral states to prevent interference of transregional countries, and that Muslim states should establish security and stability on their own.
He dismissed interference of the Western states in the Persian Gulf and Middle East issues as “unjustifiable,” noting that Tehran has invited regional states to conduct joint drills with Iranian naval forces.
Tehran and Muscat have agreed to carry out joint naval drills every year, which aim to enhance the two countries’ readiness for providing relief aid and conducting rescue operations, boost regional cooperation, and pave the way for the exchange of experiences.