The Islamic Republic has launched a large-scale naval exercise, dubbed Velayat 97, which aims to see submarines, warships, helicopters and surveillance aircrafts participate in maritime war games. The commander of Iran’s Navy, Read Admiral Hossein Khanzadi announced that the annual exercise has begun some two kilometers from the Strait of Hormuz and will continue up to 10 degrees north of the Indian Ocean. The Iranian Navy commander further stated that the Maritime War Games aim “for training naval plans to deal with any external threats, displaying power, assessing the equipment, the level of preparedness and accountability of the navy, and declaring readiness to achieve collective security in open waters.”
