Iran, Oman to hold naval drills in the Strait of Hormuz

Iran and Oman will hold naval drills in the Strait of Hormuz later this week, a senior Iranian official reported.

Iran’s semi-official news agency Tasneem reported the Iranian navy commander, Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari as saying that the joint naval drills to be held in the east of the Strait of Hormuz will last until Thursday.

Speaking to reporters after a meeting with a high-ranking delegation of Omani naval officers in Tehran, Sayyari said the purpose of the upcoming drill is to exercise rescue and relief operations, and ensure maritime security for trade vessels and oil tankers that pass through the strategic strait in the Persian Gulf.

A senior delegation of Omani officers consisting of 12 officers and headed by the Omani Navy Commander General Hamd Bin Rashid Bin Saeed Al-Balushi is visiting Tehran to discuss naval relations between the two countries.

Sayyari said they discussed naval cooperation between Tehran and Muscat, exchanging military instructors and cadets, technical cooperation on the repair, maintenance and overhaul of naval equipment and reciprocal visits by both their fleets.