Iran to launch navy wargames in Gulf from tomorrow

TEHRAN, Mar 30 (Reuters) Iran will launch a week of naval war games in the Gulf and Sea of Oman tomorrow involving more than 17,000 troops and 500 large and small naval vessels, the official IRNA news agency reported.

It quoted Admiral Morteza Saffari as saying yesterday that the manoeuvres would extend from the northern Gulf coastline to Chabahar on Iran's southern coast on the Sea of Oman, IRNA reported.

The naval wargames were aimed ''to display the Islamic system's defensive capabilities'', IRNA reported, adding that the manoeuvres would start with firing a Shahab-2 missile. Air and ground forces would also be involved, the report said.

Experts say the Shahab-2 missile has a range of up to 700 km.

IRNA said the manoeuvres would include the use of Iranian-made drones and a range of missiles.

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