Iran tests battle tactics in strategic Strait of Hormuz, wants to 'Exploit' four new Islands in Strait.

Iranian Naval Bases

Iran tests battle tactics in strategic Strait of Hormuz, wants to 'Exploit' four new Islands in Strait.(JPost).(TI). DUBAI - The naval force of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has held exercises to test new equipment and battle tactics in the strategic Strait of Hormuz, Iranian media reported on Sunday.
The drills tested the IRGC naval force's combat-readiness, speed in responding to natural disasters and familiarity with new weapons, the Fars news agency reported. They were the fifth such tactical exercises held by the force and took place near Bandar Abbas, a Gulf port on Iran's southern coast, Fars said. It did not say when they took place.
Iran's regular navy, separate from the IRGC's naval branch, held drills in the Gulf in late December and early January meant to showcase the country's military capabilities in the Strait of Hormuz, through which 40 percent of the world's seaborne oil exports passes.
Iranian officials have often said Iran could block the strait if it came under military attack over its disputed nuclear program, and a heavy Western naval presence in the Gulf is meant to deter any such move.
Yesterday, Iran's Oil Ministry issued a request to the government, asking for the proprietorship of several islands, located in the Persian Gulf, aiming to launch gas hubs in the region.
These islands are Greater and Lesser Faror islands, Hendorabi and Farsi islands. Iran's oil ministry says the islands are non-residential, lack any real infrastructure.
Establishing gas hubs in Persian Gulf, close to the Hormuz Strait is both strategically and economically important for Iran.
On one side, Iran would be able to explore new gas fields, which exist on the Islands. Establishing hubs there would allow Iran to produce gas and export it right from the hub, through the Hormuz Strait.
Expert on Iran, Reza Taghizadeh believes that the move to own the islands by the Iran's Oil Ministry is pure propaganda.
"The ministry itself does not have any money to invest into these islands, as they take money from the country's construction budget approved by the parliament," he said. "The goal to own the islands is simply to make additional revenue from gas and oil exports."
On the other side, the small islands in the Persian Gulf give Iran additional strategic points, allowing it to "expand" further, and give country a couple of extra "eyes" in the Gulf, without using extreme measures, such as closing down the Strait of Hormuz.
Since all of the four islands belong to Iran, there should be no negative reaction from other countries towards Iran's intentions.Although, one of the islands, the Farsi Island reportedly has an IRGC Navy base there, and the island is completely restricted to public.Hmmmm......Read the full story here.