Iran Fires Cruise Missiles In Wargames Showdown With United States

Iran have announced that their Iranian Naval forces have successfully fired three coast-to-sea cruise missiles on the third day of wargames being conducted along the country’s Southeastern Makran coast, on the rims of the Persian Gulf. 

The missile test comes days after a US Navy warship received a warning from several Iranian destroyers to steer clear of their zone near the Strait of Hormuz.

Farsnews.com reports:

The Nour cruise missiles fired by the Iranian Navy hit a target in the Sea of Oman earlier today.

Two Nour cruise missiles were fired from Alborz and Neyzeh warships in the Persian Gulf waters and the third one from a missile-launcher stationed in the coast.

Nour is a well-known cruise missile with a range of over 120km used by the Iranian army and the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) in different wargames and can be launched from coasts, vessels and aircrafts against enemy vessels, oil facilities and naval positions.

The main phase of the drills codenamed ‘Velayat 94’ kicked off on Wednesday along the Makran coasts and Northern waters of the Indian Ocean upon the order of Navy Commander Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari. The initial stage, that includes transfer of troops and logistics, began on January 21.

In a relevant development on Thursday, the Iranian Navy airborne forces fired torpedoes at surface and subsurface vessels on the second day of the main phase of massive wargames.

The airborne units also carried out mine laying and mine-clearing operations in the Sea of Oman and the Indian Ocean.

The Iranian marines sailing on the speedboats used light and heavy arms against the simulated enemy.

Also a number of Navy vessels practiced mine laying.

The Navy’s speedboats, including Shahab, Ra’d and Ashoura class vessels, participated in the Thursday wargames.

Also, the Navy’s 38th fleet of warships, comprising Naqdi destroyer and Bushehr and Lavan warships, which is tasked to conduct anti-piracy patrols in the high seas and the Gulf of Aden joined the Iranian naval forces in the exercises.

Different Navy surface and subsurface units, including destroyers, logistic warships, missile-launching warships and Qadir and Tareq class submarines are part of the exercises and have docked along the Strait of Hormuz to the 10-degree latitude of the Northern Indian Ocean.

Velayat 94 navy defense drills include deployment of Navy units, running tactics, firing missiles and torpedoes, as well as Special Marines parade.

During the drills on Wednesday, a US Navy warship received a serious warning from several Iranian destroyers to keep away from their zone near the Strait of Hormuz – an incident that can keep frictions high after Iran captured 10 US marines in the Persian Gulf earlier this month.

The USS MONTEREY (CG 61), a TICONDEROGA class cruiser, was sailing near the Strait of Hormuz where the Iranian forces were staging the main phase of the Velayat 94.

According to the Iranian Army, the US warship left the region immediately after receiving the warning. Rear Admiral Sayyari said the warship seemed to be planning to spy on Iranian vessels and weapons.

“Some still seem to be holding no belief in Iran’s naval power; hence they attempt to come close to get informed of our moves and capabilities,” the Admiral said on Wednesday.

The incident was the second naval showdown between the United States and Iran in Persian Gulf waters in just two weeks.

On January 12, nine men and one woman from the US Navy strayed into the Iranian territorial waters near the Farsi Island in the Persian Gulf. They were immediately captured by the IRGC.

Their boats were equipped with 50mm caliber machine guns and other light and semi-heavy weapons. Many regional analysts have also praised the IRGC’s brave reaction to the US aggression.

The IRGC freed the 10 a day later and after it was proved that the US marines had strayed into Iranian waters only due to the failure of their navigation devices and equipment.