Iran, Oman stage joint naval drill in Strait of Hormuz
Iranian and Omani military forces staged a day-long joint naval rescue and relief exercise in the Hormuz Strait and the northern tip of the Indian Ocean as the two neighbors move to build stronger relations.
Combat vessels and airborne units of the Islamic Republic of Iran Navy, the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force, the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), the Naval Division of the Border Police, the Ports and Maritime Organization of Iran, and the Royal Navy of Oman took part in the drills on Thursday.
The naval exercise was held in the presence of the heads of the joint military friendship commissions of the two countries.
The main goals of the naval drills were described as boosting combat readiness, and implementing bilateral agreements on maritime security. Iranian drones carried out observation and monitoring operations in the northern parts of the Indian Ocean and the Strait of Hormuz, and the country’s reconnaissance aircraft made several sorties to survey all military and merchant vessels cruising in the vicinity of the area at the time.
Iranian and Omani military forces managed to successfully implement various scenarios during the joint drill, showcasing their coordination. In recent years, Iran has staged many naval drills with countries, including Oman, Pakistan and Russia in order to test the combat preparedness of its Navy which has increased its presence in international waters.
Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei on Tuesday said, “In the first years after the [Islamic] Revolution, the presence of the Islamic Republic of Iran Navy beyond territorial waters was unimaginable, but now the Navy makes a 360-degree voyage around the globe powerfully and returns to the country with pride.”
Meanwhile, Iranian Navy Commander Rear Admiral Shahram Irani on Friday praised the Navy’s efforts and advances in recent years.
The Iranian commander said that the country’s Jamaran destroyer is now on a mission in the Gulf of Aden, and the Alborz destroyer is present in the Red Sea to secure the shipping lines. Today, the maritime economy is provided with high security by the country’s naval forces, he said. On Monday, a new domestically-manufactured destroyer, dubbed Deylaman, joined Iran’s northern naval fleet to strengthen security in the Caspian Sea.
Iranian military experts and technicians have in recent years made great progress in developing and manufacturing a broad range of military equipment, making the Armed Forces self-sufficient in this regard.