Iran, Italy hold joint naval games in Persian Gulf

Iranian and Italian naval fleet staged joint military drills in the international waters near the Southern Port city of Bandar Abbas, the capital of Hormozgan Province, Commander of Iran’s First Naval Zone Admiral Amir Hossein Azad announced.

According to Tasnim news agency, he said on Thursday that joint naval maneuvers were held with the participation of two destroyers of Iran’s Army Navy and an Italian Navy frigate dubbed “Euro” in the Persian Gulf and around the strategic Strait of Hormuz.

The Italian warship had docked in Bandar Abbas on Saturday for a four-day stay.

Admiral Azad added that the Iranian Navy’s Alvand and Alborz destroyers as well as a helicopter of the Navy along with a helicopter of the Euro warship participated in the joint drills, and conducted intelligence and surveillance operations.

The drills were aimed at boosting military power and exchanging of military knowledge and information between the two countries' navies, he stated.

Following a welcome ceremony in Bandar Abbas on Saturday, top Iranian Navy commanders and the visiting warship’s captain as well as Italy’s ambassador to Tehran and the European country’s military attaché in Iran held a meeting.

Earlier in September, a 5-strong military delegation from the Italian Army, led by Rear Admiral Roberto Chia Marcella, travelled to Iran and visited different units of the Iranian Armed Forces.

The ranking Italian official invited the Iranian Navy to send fleets to Italy as well.

Every year, Iran holds a number of joint military war games with other countries and senior Iranian military officials also make reciprocal visits to other nations.

ME