Iranian navy to stage war games near disputed Persian
Gulf island
TEHRAN, Feb 26 (AFP) - The Iranian navy is to stage war games near
the strategic Gulf island of Abu Musa, one of three islands claimed both
by Iran and the United Arab Emirates, the official IRNA news agency reported
Friday.
The nine-day exercises, dubbed Fateh-77 or Conquest, will start on
Saturday between Abu Musa and the Strait of Hormuz at the entrance to the
Gulf, military spokesman Fariborz Fazel told IRNA.
Several navy units and fighter jets from a southern military base will
be taking part in the exercises along with submarines, the spokesman said.
Iran has three Russian-made submarines.
The Islamic republic holds around 40 military manoeuvres every year
in the waters of the Gulf or the Sea of Oman.
Abu Musa, along with Lesser and Greater Tunbs, are claimed by both
Iran and the UAE, which has called on Tehran to accept dialogue or international
arbitration to resolve the dispute.
Iran has controlled the disputed islands since 1971 after Britain ended
its protectorate in the region. It has repeatedly rejected arbitration
and claims the islands are part of its territory.
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