TEHRAN - Iranian Navy launched 10-day massive naval exercises in the international waters on Saturday, the local satellite Press TV reported.

The naval drills, dubbed Velayat 90, cover an area of 2,000 km stretching from the east of the Strait of Hormuz in the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Aden, the report said.

Different classes of submarines, including Tareq and Ghadir, the newest ground-to-sea missile systems and torpedoes will be employed in the maneuvers.

It is the first time the Iranian Navy carries out naval drills in such a vast area, Iran's Navy Commander Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari said at a press conference on Thursday.

He said the exercise will manifest Iran's military prowess and defense capabilities in the international waters, convey a message of peace and friendship to regional countries and test the newest military equipment among other objectives.

Sayyari also rejected reports about possible one-day closure of the Strait of Hormuz during the exercise, adding that the Iranian forces are capable of accomplishing such a feat, but such a decision must be made by leaders of the Islamic republic's establishment.

Earlier this month, Parviz Sorouri, a member of the Iranian Majlis (parliament) National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, said that Iran plans to practice its ability to close the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most important passages for exports of crude oil and oil products from littoral states of the Persian Gulf.

Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said later that closing the Strait of Hormuz is not on Iran's agenda since Iran believes in upholding the stability and peace of the region.