Iran begins naval exercises near Gulf strait

Feb 4, 2012timesofindia.indiatimes.com (AP)

TEHRAN: Iran's powerful Revolutionary Guard began naval manoeuvres today in the latest show of force near the strategic Strait of Hormuz, the critical Gulf oil tanker route that Tehran has threatened to close in retaliation for tougher Western sanctions.

Plans for new Iranian war games in the Gulf have been in the works for weeks. But they got under way following stern warnings by Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, about any possible US or Israeli attacks against Tehran's nuclear facilities.