Saudi Holds Military Exercises in Central Tensions with Iran

 

Saudi Arabia's navy will hold a military exercise in the Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz next week amid tensions with Iran.

Military exercises with password Gulf Shield 1 will take place in the Sea of Oman, involving a fleet of ships, aircraft, marine and other personnel, according to the statement of Commander of the Royal Navy of Saudi Arabia Abdullah al Sultan, Wednesday (28/9).

Saudi Arabia and Iran, two countries separated by the Persian Gulf, has no diplomatic relations and the odds on a number of regional issues including Syria and Yemen war. Gulf Shield 1 is part of a series of exercises undertaken by the Navy fleet in the region of Saudi Arabia, Sultan said as quoted by the SPA news agency, quoted by Antara News.

The maneuver is aimed at improving combat readiness and ability to defend the border, protect shipping lanes and prevent aggression or terrorist attacks, according to the SPA report.

Saudi Arabia-led coalition, including naval forces, imposed a blockade on Yemen as part of efforts to prevent weapons falling into the hands of the Huthi rebels and their allies who had controlled most of the country. 

United States and Saudi Arabia accused Iran of sending missiles and other weapons to Yemeni rebels, but Tehran denies the accusation.

Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Adel al Jubeir revealed in The Wall Street Journal on September 18, Iran must halt subversive acts and hostilities and stop supporting terrorism.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif expressed on 13 September in the newspaper The New York Times main trigger of violence (in the region) is the extremist ideology is echoed Saudi Arabia.

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