The naval forces of Iran and Oman launched joint rescue and relief drills Monday in the eastern parts of the Strait of Hormuz and the northern areas of the Indian Ocean, Press TV reported.

The Islamic republic and Oman stage the joint rescue and relief drills every year, and the two countries take turns in hosting the event, Iran's Navy Commander Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari told reporters on Monday.

This year's drills are hosted by Oman, Sayyari was quoted as saying.

An Iranian naval flotilla, comprising a destroyer, a logistic warship and a helicopter carrier, left Iran for Oman on Saturday to take part in the drills, Press TV reported on Sunday.

"It was imperative to improve security in Iran's southern waters and the Indian Ocean given their geographical significance in maritime economy and busy traffic of ships and oil tankers," Hossein Azad, commander of Iran's First Naval Zone, was quoted as saying.

"The naval forces of the Islamic republic and the neighboring country of Oman will draw plans and stage joint maneuvers to this effect," he added.

On Saturday, Iran's Navy also dispatched a flotilla to the Kazakh port city of Aktau for the first time, said Ahmadreza Baqeri, the commander of Iran's fleet of warships in the northern province of Gilan.

The flotilla to Kazakhstan, named Peace and Friendship, consists of a Damavand destroyer and a Peykan missile-launcher destroyer and plans to stay in the central Asian country for three days, he said.

Source: Xinhua