Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guards conducted military exercises in the Gulf and the strategic Strait of Hormuz on Friday.
State television showed fast boats and land-sea and ground-ground missiles used during the maneuvers called Eqtedar in Farsi, or “power” in French. Launched at the beginning of January by the armed forces and the Revolutionary Guards, they are to continue until mid-March.
“The message of the exercises is peace and friendship for neighboring countries and that we ourselves are capable of ensuring the security of this strategic and sensitive region,” said the Guardians’ naval commander, Rear Admiral Alireza Tangsiri, on state television.
Three strategic islands — Big Tunb, Small Tunb and Abu Musa — lie in the Gulf near the Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of the world’s oil production passes.
They are occupied by Iran and are the subject of a dispute with the United Arab Emirates which claims them.
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-“Face any invasion”
The objective of the exercises is to be able to “face any invasion of forces coming from outside the region. And if the enemy wants to threaten the interests of our heroic nation, he will certainly receive a very strong response”, a- he added.
In previous drills, the armed forces unveiled an advanced reconnaissance ship and conducted exercises focused on protecting Iran’s nuclear facilities in the country’s west and center.
US President Donald Trump said Thursday he hoped to avoid strikes against Iranian nuclear sites, wanting an “agreement” with Tehran, the sworn enemy of the United States and Israel.
Westerners are concerned about the progress of Iran’s nuclear program and accuse Iran of seeking to acquire an atomic army, something the Islamic Republic has denied for years.
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