Iran Launches Naval Drills in South Pars

Local Editor

The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps [IRGC] launched Tuesday a series of naval drills in the South Pars Energy Zone in the Gulf, where the world's largest natural gas reservoir shared by Iran and Qatar is placed.

The drills codenamed Fajr (Dawn)-91 were commenced off the coasts of Asalouyeh and South Pars region on Tuesday, December 25, and are planned to last four days.
The South Pars gas field holds 8 percent of total gas reserves of the world and half of the country's proven gas reserves as well as is the host of the most important industrial complexes of the country and the most important part of oil industry's value chain.

The exercises include simulation of various situations involving land, land-to-sea, commando, surface vessel and missile units and are part of the IRGC's regular drills in various parts of the country's territorial waters.
On the first day of the naval drills, different IRGC coast guard, missile, electronic warfare and marine units displayed their combat and defense capabilities in the drills region.

Commander of IRGC's Fourth Naval Zone Admiral Alireza Nasseri stated that the drills aim to boost the preparedness of the IRGC Navy's different units.
"We have the lengthy sea borders in the Northern and Southern parts of the country, and defending these boundaries has requirements, including exercises, active presence in the sea and gaining defensive preparedness against potential threats," Nasseri said in remarks to FNA.
He added that "the drills also focus on psychological warfare and countering techniques commonly employed by the enemies."

Meanwhile, IRGC Lieutenant Commander Brigadier General Hussein Salami, IRGC Deputy Commander for Operations Mehdi Rabbani and Lieutenant Commander of the IRGC Navy General Alireza Tangsiri supervise the drills.

Last week, IRGC Navy Commander Rear Admiral Ali Fadavi announced that the IRGC plans to hold naval drills in the strategic Strait of Hormuz in the next few months.
"We will hold drills in the Strait of Hormuz by the end of this Iranian year (ends on March 20)," Fadavi told reporters on the sidelines of a conference on security of the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz in Tehran last Monday.
He further noted the major role of drills in the IRGC's military doctrine, and said every year the IRGC stages at least one declared naval drill and a number of undeclared exercises.


Source: News Agencies, Edited by moqawama.org