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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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