Italy joins Iran navy in Hormuz

TEHRAN // An Italian frigate held manoeuvres with two Iranian warships in the Strait of Hormuz after making a rare western port call in Iran.

The joint exercise in the strategic waterway between the Gulf and the Sea of Oman come after a series of incidents between Iranian vessels and United States warships in the area in recent months.

The Italian frigate Euro sailed to the strait for the exercise with Iranian ships Alvand and Alborz after making the port call in Bandar Abbas on Saturday, Iranian Adm Hossein Azad said.

An Iranian and an Italian helicopter also took part. Italian ambassador Mauro Conciatori described the collaboration as “a positive sign in mutual relations that can increase the bond between the countries”.

Italy was Iran’s largest trading partner before the European Union imposed sanctions, now lifted, over Tehran’s nuclear programme. It has been keen to restore that position and in April, pime minister Matteo Renzi became the highest-ranking European leader to visit Iran since its nuclear deal with world powers in July last year.

Italy’s policy contrasts with that of Washington, which accused Iran of dangerous behaviour in encounters with the US navy in and about the Strait of Hormuz in recent months.

On September 10, two US maritime patrols were flying missions in international airspace over the waterway when Iranian vessels threatened to fire on them if they did not change course, the US said. There were at least five other incidents the month before that prompted US criticism of Iran’s forces. Tehran denied its vessels had been at fault.