Iran continues naval exercises in Arab Gulf

CAIRO, August 3 (SEE) - In a apparent threat to the international navigation in the Arab Gulf, the Iranian navy started on Thursday its drill at the Straits of Hormuz at the mouth of the Gulf.

U.S. officials said that Tehran pretends to disrupt the waterways in the region by its naval exercises, where some 30% of the world’s sea-transported oil passes daily.

Bill Urban, the U.S. Central Command Spokesman, said "We are aware of the increase in Iranian naval operations within the Arabian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz and Gulf of Oman."

"We are monitoring it closely, and will continue to work with our partners to ensure freedom of navigation and free flow of commerce," Urban added.

This comes in parallel with the Houthis, the Iranian-backed rebels in Yemen, threats of the ships in the Bab al-Mandab straits, at the mouth of the Red Sea.

In the same context, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini said "We are determined to continue and even increase [our] economic and trade engagement, legitimate economic and trade engagement with Iran even if the United States has decided to impose sanctions in violation of the commitments taken under the nuclear deal," according to Sputnik.