Iran Conducts Military Exercises In Key Strait

(NewsCore) - Iran began military exercises Saturday in the Strait of Hormuz, a show of force in the strategic oil shipping channel amid rising tensions over Tehran's nuclear program.

According to Iranian state media, the country's powerful Revolutionary Guard will be holding a month-long naval drill in the strait, which transports much of the world's oil. Iran last year threatened to shut the passageway in retaliation for Western sanctions aimed at thwarting its nuclear ambitions.

State media reported Saturday that the drill had been planned for weeks.

The war games started a day after Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei issued a fiery round of rhetoric at the US and Israel, saying that if his country's nuclear facilities are attacked, it would be "ten times worse for interests of the United States" than it would be for Iran.

He added that Iran has no intention of abandoning its nuclear efforts, which Tehran maintains are for peaceful purposes.

Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak said Thursday that Israel must consider conducting "an operation" before Iran reaches an "immunity zone" in regard to its nuclear ambitions.

Meanwhile, US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta told The Washington Post that Israel could attack Iran as early as April, May or June.

State Department spokesman Mark Toner said Thursday that Washington believes "there is still time and space to pursue diplomacy" with Iran.

After Iran's threats to close the Strait of Hormuz, the US boosted its naval presence in the Gulf. Last month, Washington deployed the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln to the region, which was accompanied by two British and French warships.