The United States is leading naval maneuvers off the west coast of Iran this week, amid mounting tension over Iran’s nuclear program.
The exercises aim to fight weapons proliferation, and are being held under the three-year-old Proliferation Security Initiative. The exercises will simulate the inspection of ships carrying illegal materials.
Australia, Bahrain, Britain France Italy and the U.S. will participate in the maneuvers, which begin on Monday.
Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar will be sending observers to the mission.
This is the first time such an exercise is being carried out in the Gulf and the first time Middle Eastern countries are taking part.
The Iranians are clearly agitated by the planned drills.
An unnamed Iranian official from Iran’s Foreign Ministry called the military maneuvers dangerous and said the joint exercises were “not in line with the security and stability of the Persian Gulf,” the Iranian news agency IRNA reported.
Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah ‘Ali Khamanai has warned Arab countries not to support Israel and the U.S. in any way.
The exercises are taking place while Iran is under heavy diplomatic pressure to abandon its nuclear program, or else face sanctions.
Washington fears Iran is pursuing a nuclear weapons, but Tehran insists its program is for peaceful purposes.