Iran stages war games in troubled waters
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iran on Sunday began a massive military exercise off its southeastern coast as a show of force during rising tensions with the United States ahead of a resumption of nuclear talks.
The drill includes army infantry and mechanized units, the navy, and air force, and will display Iranian-made drones, according to Tasnim News. Codenamed Zolfaqar-1400, it is taking place over one million square kilometres, stretching from the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow passageway that is one of the world’s most important oil transportation routes, down to northern parts of the Indian Ocean and parts of the Red Sea.
The war games are a demonstration of strength in “remote waters” and a warning to “enemies that any act of aggression against Iran will draw a crushing response from the army,” Deputy Army Chief Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari said on Saturday, Tasnim reported.
Last week, Iranian media reported that the country had thwarted an act of United States “piracy” in the Gulf of Oman, accusing the US of trying to steal a tanker of oil. US officials told The Associated Press that Iran last month seized and is still holding a Vietnamese-flagged tanker.
Tensions are high between Tehran and Washington ahead of the resumption of nuclear talks on November 29. The US late last month announced new sanctions on Iran’s drone program and Tehran said last week its stockpile of 20% enriched uranium exceeds 210 kilograms, far above limits set in the nuclear accord.
The drill includes army infantry and mechanized units, the navy, and air force, and will display Iranian-made drones, according to Tasnim News. Codenamed Zolfaqar-1400, it is taking place over one million square kilometres, stretching from the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow passageway that is one of the world’s most important oil transportation routes, down to northern parts of the Indian Ocean and parts of the Red Sea.
The war games are a demonstration of strength in “remote waters” and a warning to “enemies that any act of aggression against Iran will draw a crushing response from the army,” Deputy Army Chief Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari said on Saturday, Tasnim reported.
Last week, Iranian media reported that the country had thwarted an act of United States “piracy” in the Gulf of Oman, accusing the US of trying to steal a tanker of oil. US officials told The Associated Press that Iran last month seized and is still holding a Vietnamese-flagged tanker.
Tensions are high between Tehran and Washington ahead of the resumption of nuclear talks on November 29. The US late last month announced new sanctions on Iran’s drone program and Tehran said last week its stockpile of 20% enriched uranium exceeds 210 kilograms, far above limits set in the nuclear accord.