U.S. says Persian Gulf navy drill not directed at Iran

TEHRAN,May 14(MNA) – Vice Admiral John Miller, commander of the U.S. Fifth Fleet, said on Saturday that a massive naval minesweeping exercise involving 41 countries was not directed at Iran, Gulf Times reported. “It is not about Iran,” Miller said at a news conference in Manama, the fleet’s headquarters, adding that the maneuvers were “purely defensive”. “Our message does not get to one country… it is about a secure maritime environment,” Miller said. “It is purely defensive, not provocative, and takes place in international waters.” According to the reports, the United States and its allies started the so-called International Mine Countermeasures Exercise in the Persian Gulf on May 6 after they staged a similar exercise eight months ago. The exercise is scheduled to end on May 30. According to Reuters, last September’s exercises included Britain and France, some unnamed Middle Eastern states, and countries from as far apart as Estonia and New Zealand. Iran has repeatedly warned against any provocative actions in the Persian Gulf region. Iranian naval forces staged a minesweeping exercise in the Gulf of Oman and the east of the Strait of Hormuz on May 7.