Iran’s army begins massive drill

TEHRAN, Iran  — Iran’s national army has begun a massive military drill near the strategic Strait of Hormuz at the entrance to the Persian Gulf, state TV reported on Thursday.

Gen. Ahmad Reza Pourdastan, chief of the Army’s ground forces, told the channel that the maneuvers are aimed at “transferring experiences” to younger generations of Iranian soldiers.

The report said the weeklong exercise will be carried out over 527,000 square kilometers (850,000 square miles) in the northern part of the Indian Ocean, Sea of Oman and the eastern part of the passage, through which one-fifth of the world’s oil supply passes.

The initial part of the drill includes exercises by ground units in southeast Iran on Thursday and Friday. The air force and navy will begin their exercises over the weekend.

Last week Iran said units from the powerful Revolutionary Guard will participate in the exercise and new weapons will be test fired.