Iran has test-fired four missiles designed to hit warships during a drill near the strategic Strait of Hormuz, an Iranian military commander said.
The missiles were fired simultaneously and hit a “big target” the size of a warship, sinking it within 50 seconds, General Ali Fadavi of the powerful Revolutionary Guard was quoted as saying by the semi-official Fars news agency.
The Fars report late on Monday was the first indication of an Iranian military exercise taking place simultaneously and close to US-led joint naval manoeuvres in the Persian Gulf, including mine-sweeping drills, which got under way last week.
The US Navy claims the manoeuvres are not directly aimed at Iran, but the West and its regional allies have made clear they would react against attempts by Tehran to carry out threats to try to close critical Gulf oil shipping lanes in retaliation for tighter sanctions over its disputed nuclear programme.
Fadavi did not elaborate on the ongoing Iranian exercise or the type of missiles fired but said the Guard is planning a “massive naval manoeuvre in the near future” in the strait.
Iran regularly holds manoeuvres to upgrade its military readiness as well as test its equipment.