Tehran, May 09: The Iranian Navy has launched new tests during the fourth day of a major military exercise it is conducting in the country’s southern waters.
Surface-to-surface and surface-to-air missiles, known as Nour (Persian for light) were tested on Saturday. The missiles can be installed on both destroyers and upgraded hovercrafts.
In the fourth day of the drill, marine-commandoes practiced beach landings and rapid deployment tactics. They also used domestically-manufactured Tondar (Thunder), Shahab (Meteor) and Azarakhsh (Lightning) speed boats to hit mock enemy targets.
The six phase exercise dubbed Velayat 89 will continue for another four days. The Iranian military’s air and ground forces are also participating in the maneuver.
This is the first time that Iran is conducting military drills in such a vast area, stretching from the Strait of Hormuz to the Indian Ocean.
The strategic Strait of Hormuz is a waterway through which a large percentage of the world’s oil shipments pass.
“This maneuver sends a message of peace and friendship to regional states and sends out a message to outside powers that regional countries can ensure their own security,” Iranian military spokesman Qasem Rostamabadi told Media.
Rostamabadi added that new missiles would be test-launched in the coming days and that international and regional observes will be present for the event.
——–Agencies