Iran, Italy launch joint marine drill

BANDAR ABBAS, Sep. 27 (MNA) – An Army Navy commander said Italian warship ‘Euro’ has joined Iran’s Navy marine drills on Tuesday morning in Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz. Rear. Adm. Hossein Azad told reporters on a morning parade that ‘Euro’ had been docking for 4 days in Bandar Abbas and had participated in a joint military navy drill with Iran’s Navy fleet of two warships; “Alvand and Alborz destroyers along with a Navy air fleet helicopter and an Italian helicopter participated in the drill; the drill comprised of intelligence collection, surveillance, and flight drills,” he told reporters. “The drill is held to improve combat capabilities and information transfer of both Iranian and Italian Navies; Italy is a NATO member state and had been taken by surprise upon viewing of Iran’s military might and the capability to hold drills in such scopes,” he added aboard the Jamaran destroyer deck; “Italian participation in the drill communicates messages to the world that they should not underestimate Iran’s high defensive and battle capabilities.”