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Iran can easily block Strait of Hormuz

China.org.cn, December 29, 2011

• Iran's naval forces can readily block the strategic Strait of Hormuz if needed, an Iranian senior official told the local satellite Press TV on Wednesday.

  A soldier stands at a submarine during Iranian naval maneuvers dubbed Velayat 90 on the Sea of Oman, Iran, Dec. 27, 2011. [Ali Mohammadi/Xinhua]

  "Closing the Strait of Hormuz is very easy for Iranian naval forces," Sayyari told Press TV as the Iranian Navy continued its the ten-day naval drills in the Strait of Hormuz and Sea of Oman.

  "Iran has comprehensive control over the strategic water way," Sayyari was quoted as saying.

  But Sayyari said that his country steadfastly maintains its interest in "establishing sustainable security and stability in the region."

  Iran hopes to convey a message of friendship and reassurance to the Middle Eastern nations by engaging in the ongoing naval exercises, he said.

  The maneuvers, which have been designed to showcase and put to test defensive strategies of Iran's naval forces, were planned as response to repeated enemy threats against the interests of the Islamic republic, Sayyari said.

  Sayyari also said that Iran is willing to hold joint naval drills with other nations, particularly regional countries.

  "These wargames are a warning to the Western countries about the closure of the Strait of Hormuz," member of the parliament's National Security and Foreign Policy Commission Zohreh Elahian told Fars on Monday.

  "If any threat is posed to Iran, the Islamic Republic is capable of closing the Strait of Hormuz," Elahian said.

  "The naval drills in the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman display the power and domination of the Islamic Republic of Iran's Navy over the regional waters," she added.

  "The wargames are related to the power of deterrence, dominance and superiority over the region and are a symbol of the defensive and deterrence power of the Islamic republic's ruling system and Armed Forces," said the lawmaker.

  It is the first time the Iranian Navy carries out naval drills in such a vast area, covering an area of 2,000 km stretching from the east of the Strait of Hormuz in the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Aden, Sayyari said.

  The Western countries have long blamed Iran over its nuclear programme but Iran has argued that its nuclear programme is only for peaceful purposes.

  Iran's archrivals, the U.S. and Israel, have not ruled out the use of force against Iran over its nuclear issue.

  Iranian officials has constantly reaffirmed that Iran would respond to any attacks targeting their country.

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