Last Phase of Iranian Navy’s Massive War Game Begins in Southern Iran
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – The last phase of a large-scale military drill by the Iranian Navy began on Sunday in a vast maritime zone from south of the country stretching to north of the Indian Ocean.
The war game, codenamed “Velayat 95", began in southern parts of Iran by an order issued by Iranian Navy Commander Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari.
The drill covers an area of 2 million square kilometers, stretching from the Strait of Hormuz and Oman Sea to north of the Indian Ocean and Bab al-Mandab Strait.
A range of naval equipment are utilized in the drill, including homegrown submarines and helicopters. The previous phases of the drill were held in 2016.
In addition, Iranian Navy commando units are carrying out special operations in the Makran region located in southeast of the country, along the coasts of the Gulf of Oman.
In June 2016, Rear Admiral Sayyari said the Navy has plans for 20 military drills in the current Iranian year, which ends on March 20.
According to the commander, the drills include electronic warfare, missile tests, intelligence operations, deployment of submarines, and relief and rescue operations.
Iran’s Armed Forces hold routine military exercises throughout the year.
Iranian officials have already made it clear that the country’s military program, including the routine exercises and test of new missiles, will not be hampered by anything, including the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), a nuclear agreement between Iran and the Group 5+1 (Russia, China, the US, Britain, France and Germany), which took effect in January 2016.
