Iran conducts war games in Strait of Hormuz

Iran began its annual war games on Sunday, less than a month ahead of a planned return to talks with Western powers about resuscitating the 2015 nuclear deal.

The military drills, called “Zolfaghaar-1400,” were reported by Iranian state TV. They are taking place in the Strait of Hormuz, an important maritime chokepoint that connects the Gulf of Oman with the Persian Gulf.

Around 20% of the world’s oil shipping passes through this strait to reach the Indian Ocean and the wider world.

The exercises aim at “improving readiness in confronting foreign threats and any possible invasion,” The Associated Press cited Iranian state TV as saying.