Feed: CNN.com - WORLD
Posted on: Friday, January 06, 2012 2:32 PM
Author: CNN.com - WORLD
Subject: Iran announces new drills in Strait of Hormuz

Iran plans to conduct military drills in the Strait of Hormuz in February, state media said Friday.

EDITION: INTERNATIONAL
U.S.
MÉXICO
ARABIC

Set edition preference

Share this on:

Facebook Twitter Digg delicious reddit MySpace StumbleUpon LinkedIn Viadeo

State media: Iran to hold military drills in the Strait of Hormuz

By the CNN Wire Staff

January 6, 2012 -- Updated 1232 GMT (2032 HKT)

A soldier stands guard on a military speed boat during Iran's navy exercises in the Strait of Hormuz on December 28, 2011.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

The report comes amid tensions over the waterway
Iran launched a 10-day drill in the strait in late December
Iran threatens to block the strait if sanctions are imposed on its oil export

(CNN) -- Iran plans to conduct military drills in the Strait of Hormuz in February, state media said Friday.

The announcement comes amid tensions about the strategically important waterway.

Dubbed "the Great Prophet," the drills will be different from previous ones, a commander with Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps told Press TV.

It was unclear how the drills will be different.

What's Iran's real plan?

Navy won't tolerate Iran 'disruption'

Iran launched a 10-day drill in the strait in late December. It threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz, the only outlet from the Persian Gulf. The critical shipping lane had 17 million barrels of oil per day passing through in 2011, according to the U.S. Energy Information Agency.

Analysis: Saber-rattling in Strait of Hormuz

Iran threatened to block the strait if sanctions are imposed on its oil exports. France, Britain and Germany have proposed sanctions to punish Iran's lack of cooperation on its nuclear program.

That threat led to a war of words about the strait.

"Anyone who threatens to disrupt freedom of navigation in an international strait is clearly outside the community of nations; any disruption will not be tolerated," Cmdr. Amy Derrick Frost, spokeswoman for the U.S. 5th Fleet based in Bahrain, said at the time,

The United States has had forces in the Persian Gulf since World War II. Its ships sail through the Persian Gulf frequently, many on their way to and from the 5th Fleet's headquarters in Bahrain.

Share this on:

Facebook Twitter Digg delicious reddit MySpace StumbleUpon LinkedIn Viadeo

Part of complete coverage on

CNN recommends

Jolie film bears witness to rape

January 4, 2012 -- Updated 1724 GMT (0124 HKT)

Tales of war leave out half the story much of the time: Women. But Angelina Jolie's new movie shows how raping women has become a weapon of war.

Wasabi's fiery but healthy kick

Wasabi lovers may want to add more than a small pinch to their soy sauce the next time they opt for sushi. The fiery green paste has been found to possess health benefits.

Can grime-fighting garments purify air?

January 4, 2012 -- Updated 1754 GMT (0154 HKT)