Iranian Navy to stage minesweeping exercise today

TEHRAN,May 7(MNA) – Iranian naval forces will hold a minesweeping exercise in the Gulf of Oman and the east of the Strait of Hormuz today, according to the public relations department of the Iranian Navy. The deputy commander of the Navy said on Monday that the country’s newest and most advanced minesweeper, which had been designed and manufactured by Iranian experts, would be unveiled and used during the war games. Rear Admiral Siavash Jareh also said that the maneuvers would be held to give a response to the enemies’ massive propaganda campaign against the Islamic Republic and display the capabilities of Iranian armed forces. According to Reuters, the United States and its allies were scheduled to stage a naval exercise in the Persian Gulf in May to practice minesweeping and escorting ships. Representatives from more than 30 nations were to gather in Bahrain for the so-called International Mine Countermeasures Exercise from May 6-30, eight months after they staged a previous edition of the exercises. Last September’s exercises included Britain and France, some unnamed Middle Eastern states, and countries from as far apart as Estonia and New Zealand. The names of the countries taking part in the exercises this May have not been announced.