The Iranian military has carried out successful tests of long-range missiles, RIA Novosti reports.
The Qader surface-to-sea missiles hit all targets in the Gulf, Deputy Commander of the Naval Forces Mahmoud Mousavi said. The deputy commander said earlier that tests of the Qader and Nour missiles were scheduled for January 2.
Missile tests are part of the Velayat-90 drills of Iranian Naval Forces in the Gulf. The drills started on December 24 and end on January 2. The training area covers about 2,000 square km, ranging from the Hormuz Strait to the Oman Gulf.
A set of Western states published reports on December 31, stating that Iran had tested a long-range missile. The Iranian navy denied the information.
Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari said that Iran is testing own surface-to-air, surface-to-surface missiles, long-range missiles, torpedoes and hand missile equipment.
Tensions started after an announcement of Iranian authorities about possible closing of the Hormuz Strait, a significant sea route for exports of oil and gas from the Gulf, for the drills. A member of the Iranian parliamentary commission for national security, Parviz Sarvari, said that the naval forces were trained for closing the strait. The statement caused a growth of oil prices. Press secretary of the Iranian Foreign Ministry Ramin Mehmanparast said that Tehran would not close the strait.
Iranian Vice-President Mohammad Reza Rahimi threatened last Tuesday that the Hormuz Strait would be closed unless Western states abandon their plans to blockade Iranian oil exports. Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari said that they are capable of closing the strait with permission of the government.
The Fifth US Fleet promised to prevent any attempts to block freighting in the Hormuz Strait.
The Hormuz Strait is located in the Gulf. It is the main export route for oil and gas from the region, particularly the US. It connects the Oman Gulf in the south-east with the Persian Gulf in the south-west. The northern coast is controlled by Iran, the southern - by the UAE and Oman, both US allies.
