Iran Launches Another Exercise

Middle East Newsline:

Iran has launched another major military exercise. The Iranian Navy and Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps have launched a naval exercise in the [Persian] Gulf. The exercise, entitled "851," began on Sunday and would last three days.

"The aim of this 3-day maneuver is promotion of professional skills and new educational technology," the official Iranian news agency Irna said.

The headquarters of the exercise has been located at the naval base at Khorramshahr in southwestern Iran. Mohammad Taqi Hejazi, a naval spokesman, said the exercise would be conducted in three phases.

This was the second major naval exercise by Iran in as many months. In April, the IRGC conducted the week-long "Holy Prophet" exercise, which also took place in the northern Gulf.