Iran holds naval drills in Persian Gulf
By Sara Rajabova
Combat units of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps of Iran have staged four-day-long naval exercises in the Persian Gulf waters.
The naval exercises aimed to display and assess Iran's power in defending the Greater Tunb and the Lesser Tunb islands in the Persian Gulf, Fars news agency reported.
Different IRGC combat units displayed their capabilities and assessed their efficiency and potential during maneuvers which were held under the title of 'Strong Defense'.
During the drills, the IRGC forces employed defense and air defense tactics and multi-layer defense, assessed the mobility of their vessels, including surface and subsurface units, and assessed different capabilities of the military equipment and weapons newly supplied to the naval combat force.
Assessment results will be used for strengthening the defense of the Greater Tunb and the Lesser Tunb islands.
Last year, a senior IRGC commander underlined the strategic importance of Iranian islands in the Persian Gulf, and added that the IRGC has deployed forces and equipment in these islands to defend them.
The UAE recently raised some claims on three islands -- the Greater Tunb, the Lesser Tunb and Abu Musa -- in the Persian Gulf.
However, Iran repeatedly declared that its ownership of the islands is unquestionable. International documents clearly show that the three islands, which were historically owned by Iran, temporarily fell to British control in 1903. The islands were returned to Iran based on an agreement in 1971 before the UAE was born.
Meanwhile, a group of Iranian Navy vessels will make a stop at the Russian port city of Astrakhan, the naval base of Russia's Caspian Sea fleet, in the coming months, the Russian military said.
The press service for Russia's Southern Military District said that Iranian naval warships are expected to dock at Astrakhan port this summer, Voice of Russia radio station reported on May 27.
The report said that the visit is part of a plan to expand and strengthen cooperation between the Caspian Sea littoral states.
According to the report, Iranian naval commanders are expected to meet with the commander of the Caspian Sea fleet and officials in Astrakhan Province.
However, the exact date of the visit has not been announced.
In recent years, Iran's Navy has been increasing its presence in international waters to protect naval routes and provide security for merchant vessels and tankers.
Iran has repeatedly asserted that its overseas naval presence is meant to convey a message of peace and friendship to regional countries.