IRGC plans major naval drill in PG

Press TV - Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Navy is set to hold a major military maneuver in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz in February, a senior IRGC commander says.

IRGC Navy Commander Rear Admiral Ali Fadavi said Thursday that the maneuver, 7th in a series of drills dubbed the Great Prophet, will be different compared to previous exercises held by the IRGC. 

He said that the Islamic Republic of Iran is in full control of the strategic Strait of Hormuz and monitors all moves in the area. 

The Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway between Iran and Oman, connects the Persian Gulf with the Sea of Oman and is a major oil route. 

This comes after the Iranian navy launched the 10-day Velayat 90 drills on December 24 to test its defense capabilities and maintain total readiness in the face of potential threats. 

The drills covered an area stretching from the east of the Strait of Hormuz in the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Aden and ended on January 2. 

Iran maintains that the drills staged by the IRGC or the Army are defensive in nature.