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Iran to stage massive navy drills in Indian Ocean

Xinhua, January 10, 2016 Adjust font size:

Iran will hold massive navy drills in the northern areas of Indian Ocean in the coming days, a senior Iranian navy commander said Sunday.

The exercises code-named "Velayat 94" will be staged by January 20, Navy Lieutenant Commander Rear Admiral Gholamreza Khadem Bigham was quoted by Tasnim news agency as saying.

The drill is aimed at evaluating the capabilities and testing the military equipment of the Iranian navy forces, Khadem Bigham said.

"Iran's presence in international waters and high seas and holding various navy drills indicate the Islamic republic's high level of preparedness and power," and this is an important deterrent strategy, he added.

In the past, the Islamic republic carried out a number of navy drills in the Strait of Hormuz, the Sea of Oman, the north of the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Aden and the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait. Iran used to test different kinds of missiles, reconnaissance and combat drones, as well as torpedoes. Endit