Iran ‘opens naval base’ near Gulf

Iran has opened new naval facilities east of the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow entrance to the Gulf which is key to oil supplies, state media say.

Naval chief Admiral Habibollah Sayyari was quoted as saying the base in the town of Jask would enable Iran to block the entry of an “enemy” into the Gulf.


Iran has threatened to close the strait in response to a potential military strike over its nuclear activities.

It denies claims by Western powers that it is seeking a nuclear bomb.

Key ‘chokepoint’

“We are creating a new defence front in the region, thinking of a non-regional enemy,” Adm Sayyari told state run Iranian radio.

“In this region we are capable of preventing the entry of any kind of enemy into the strategic Persian Gulf if need be,” he said.

BBC