'Moderate & Peaceful' Iran starts large-scale military drill near Strait of Hormuz.

IRGC naval bases

'Moderate and Peaceful' Iran starts large-scale military drill near Strait of Hormuz.(Taz).

Iranian army has started a large-scale military drill on Dec. 25 morning near the strategic Strait of Hormuz through which one fifth of the world oil supply passes, the country’s state IRINN TV reported.

The exercise dubbed “Mohammad Rasoul allah” will cover an area of 2.2 million square kilometers from the country’s south east territory, east of the Strait of Hormuz to the southern parts of the Gulf of Aden.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran’s might will be displayed in joint wargames, by the Army’s Ground, Naval and Air Forces and with the support of Khatam al-Anbia Air Defense Base,” Navy Commander Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari announced on Tuesday.

Sayyari said the Naval Forces would use different types of military equipment and weapons in the exercises to show Iran’s power in water.

The Iranian commander added that various types of warships, destroyers, submarines, missiles, aircraft and helicopters would be used in the drills in a show of Iran's naval might and power.

In relevant remarks earlier this month, Iranian Ground Force Commander Lieutenant General Ahmad Reza Pourdastan announced that his forces are due to stage massive wargames in late December or Early January in the Southeastern parts of the country.

"We will practice two tactics of asymmetric war, war with new threats and proxy wars," the Iranian commander said.

"Iran would also use suicide, surveillance and imaging drones in the military drill," Pourdastan further added.

"The high-precision Toufan missile with a range of 4km can both be used as a land-based missile and be fired from helicopters during the wargames," Pourdastan told FNA on Thursday.

He also said that Shaher sniper rifle, the Moharram six-barrel cannon and mine-shedding systems are among the other weapons and equipment to be used in the wargames.

Pourdastan elaborated on the drones used by the Iranian Ground Forces in the drills, and said a new type of these drones can be used for suicide attacks against air or ground targets. 

The Iranian commander noted that the maneuvers could increase capability and potentials of the Iranian ground force.

Pourdastan further noted that the Army's Ground Force is watching bases and forces in neighboring countries, and would use its potentials in case their activities divert from normal course.

Tehran has repeatedly stated that its military might poses no threat to other countries, reiterating that its defense doctrine is based on deterrence.

Ahead of holding the military exercise Iranian military officials announced that the Islamic Republic has warned several “trans-regional” spy planes including U-2 which were operating near the country’s flight information region (FIR) to stay away from Iranian airspace.