Starting today, Iran's Revolutionary Guards will begin 3 days of manoeuvres in the Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz to show their naval strength, the semi-official Fars News Agency reported.
The military exercises, in what is a key waterway for global oil supplies, take place at a time of rising tension between Iran and Western powers, which fear Tehran's nuclear programme is aimed at developing bombs. Iran denies the charge.
"Maintaining security in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, as the world's key economic and energy routes, is the main goal of the war games," Fars quoted Brigadier General Hossein Salami as saying. "This war game is not a threat for any friendly countries," he said.
Naval, Air, and Land Forces from the Guards will take part.    
The Islamic Republic's armed forces often hold manoeuvres in an apparent bid to show their readiness to deter any military action by Israel or the United States.
"We want the world to know the importance of security of this region and the Islamic Republic's undeniable role in this regard," Salami  said.
"Peace and friendship, security, tranquillity and mutual trust are the messages of this war game for neighbouring countries in the Persian Gulf region," the General added.