Revolutionary Guard show of strength in key route for world's oil tanker traffic comes only days after completion of previous exercises
Iran's Revolutionary Guard will hold naval exercises in the strategic Strait of Hormuz in February, the country's semi-official Fars news agency reported.
The announcement, made on Thursday, came only two days after the Iranian navy completed another set of exercises near the strait, which is the passageway for about one-third of the world's oil tanker traffic.
Tehran's naval manoeuvres have come under close international scrutiny. Some Iranian officials have threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz should the west strike the country's nuclear facilities or embargo oil exports.
The report quoted the Guard's naval commander, Admiral Ali Fadavi, as saying that the latest exercise would be the seventh staging of an annual drill called the Great Prophet.
Fadavi said this year's would be "different" from its predecessors.
He said the drill would be held in the Iranian month of Bahman, which mainly corresponds to February.
The Guard, Iran's most powerful military force, has the same air, naval and ground branches as the regular armed forces, and is also in charge of the country's missile programme.
On Tuesday, Iran's regular navy ended a 10-day drill in the waters off the strait. Military officers said Iran held the drill to show off its prowess and defence capabilities.
However, it was also the latest in a series of Iranian shows of strength as international criticism mounts over Tehran's nuclear programme.
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