Iran kicks off another round of war games
Source: Agencies |
May 6, 2010, Thursday
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Iran yesterday kicked off new war games and military maneuvers in the strategic Persian Gulf waters, the country's second military show of force in less than a month.
The exercises reflect Iran's desire to flex its military muscle at a time of a deepening standoff with the West over Tehran's controversial nuclear program. The war games, held annually since 2006, are also meant to act as a warning to the United States or Israel should they consider a military strike on Iran's nuclear facilities.
The new maneuvers, dubbed "Velayat 89," are to last eight days in the Strait of Hormuz and the Sea of Oman and cover about 250,000 square kilometers of Iranian territorial waters, according to state television.
In late April, Iran's Revolutionary Guard held five-day maneuvers in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran's leaders have in the past said that if attacked, the country would respond by shutting off the Strait of Hormuz, the mouth of the Gulf through which around 40 percent of the world's oil and gas supplies passes, and attacking US bases in the Gulf.
Navy chief Admiral Habibollah Sayyari said yesterday that Iran's navy and air force will "show its might" in the latest exercises.
The exercise comes as the Obama administration is lobbying hard at the UN Security Council for tougher punishment of Iran over its refusal to suspend its uranium enrichment.
The exercises reflect Iran's desire to flex its military muscle at a time of a deepening standoff with the West over Tehran's controversial nuclear program. The war games, held annually since 2006, are also meant to act as a warning to the United States or Israel should they consider a military strike on Iran's nuclear facilities.
The new maneuvers, dubbed "Velayat 89," are to last eight days in the Strait of Hormuz and the Sea of Oman and cover about 250,000 square kilometers of Iranian territorial waters, according to state television.
In late April, Iran's Revolutionary Guard held five-day maneuvers in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran's leaders have in the past said that if attacked, the country would respond by shutting off the Strait of Hormuz, the mouth of the Gulf through which around 40 percent of the world's oil and gas supplies passes, and attacking US bases in the Gulf.
Navy chief Admiral Habibollah Sayyari said yesterday that Iran's navy and air force will "show its might" in the latest exercises.
The exercise comes as the Obama administration is lobbying hard at the UN Security Council for tougher punishment of Iran over its refusal to suspend its uranium enrichment.
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