Baku, Azerbaijan, May 3
By Fatih Karimov - Trend:
Iran's Navy will continue holding military drills in the Persian Gulf despite the US objection, says Iranian Navy Commander Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari.
Sayyari claimed that the US is against Iran's authority in the Persian Gulf, adding that however the Islamic Republic will hold military drills in the region using all of its power, Fars news agency reported May 3.
He further said that Iran's military drills have nothing to do with other countries.
Sayyari added that the Navy plans to hold at least 20 special military exercises until March 2017.
The drills will cover various warfare areas, including missile, submarine, intelligence and electronic warfare, he added.
Sayyari's remarks come a day after Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned the United States against keeping a military presence in the Persian Gulf and vowed that the Islamic Republic will continue to carry out a range of war drills in the area despite warnings.
Apparently responding to the recently introduced US House of Representatives resolution, which criticizes Iran's military activities in the Persian Gulf, Khamenei called the US's stance "foolish and worthless."
"Today, the enemies are drawing plans to bring Iran's war games in the Persian Gulf to a halt, what a foolish plan," said Khamenei.