Iran's IRGC confirms staging naval drill in Gulf

TEHRAN - Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) confirmed on Sunday that it held a military drill in the Gulf this week with the aim of securing the strategic waterway and deterring potential threats posed by the enemies, state TV reported.

The exercise was conducted within the framework of the IRGC's annual exercises program, IRGC spokesman Ramezan Sharif was quoted as saying by Press TV.

Sharif said that IRGC chief commander Mohammad Ali Ja'fari has expressed his satisfaction with the exercise and commended the naval and aerospace units which participated in the drill.

The IRGC will maintain and enhance comprehensive defense readiness in order to secure the strategic waterway and proportionately counter potential threats and adventurism by the enemies, he added.

IRGC has warned that it could block the Hormuz Strait in the Gulf should the US prevent Iran's oil exports.

Meanwhile, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has said that if Iran cannot export its crude oil through the Hormuz Strait, no other country would be able to do so.

The US administration attempts to block Iran's crude oil exports from November.