Iran to hold wargames in Gulf

TEHRAN (Iran)—Iran unexpectedly announced Wednesday that it would be holding military maneuvers in the Gulf this week, only days after U.S.-led navies held exercises in the same waterway. Iranian state television quoted the head of the Revolutionary Guards, Gen. Yahya Rahim Safavi, as saying the 10-day maneuvers, named “Great Prophet,” would take place in the Gulf and the Sea of Oman, beginning Thursday.
“The war games are aimed at demonstrating the deterrent power of the guards against possible threats,” Safavi said. Safavi stressed the drills were not a threat to neighboring countries, saying: “Our neighbors are our friends. The guards just want to prove that they ready to resist in any threatening situation.”
His announcement came two days after U.S.-led warships finished a two-day maneuver in the Gulf — an exercise that Iran described as “”adventurist.” Iran said the six-nation drills would not improve security in the Gulf waters, through which about 20 percent of the world’s oil passes.—Agencies