Iran Deployed Submarine and Destroyer to Persian Gulf

20.09.2012 Iranian submarine Tareq-901 and destroyer Sahand departed from the port of Bandar-Abbas and set a course for the Persian Gulf.

Deployment of the submarine and the destroyer to Persian Gulf was performed on direct order of Iranian leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, reports online media.

Earlier on, a group of US Navy's amphibious ships reinforced with marine battalion left the base in San Diego on Tuesday heading for the Middle East. The expeditionary striking force includes amphibious assault ship USS Peleliu, amphibious transport dock USS Green Bay, dock landing ship USS Rushmore, and about 4,000 marines and seals. The deployment will last 7 months.

Recall that the US leads joint naval exercise in the Strait of Hormuz with about 20 countries involved. According to US Navy Central Command based in Bahrain, the ships will take part in defensive exercise to maintain free navigation in international waters of the Middle East and to secure regional stability.

Officially, purpose of the maneuvers is to practice joint minesweeping activities in the gulf. According to US Navy, the exercise is not aimed against any particular country. Nevertheless, the maneuvers are perceived as open challenge to Tehran which continuously threatens to mine the Strait of Hormuz in case of a conflict.