Iranian and Italian naval vessels staged joint military drills in international waters near the southern port city of Bandar Abbas, the capital of Hormozgan Province, the commander of Iran's First Naval Zone said.
Rear Admiral Amir Hossein Azad also said on Thursday the joint naval maneuvers were held with the participation of two destroyers of Iran's Navy and an Italian Navy frigate dubbed "Euro" in the Persian Gulf and around the strategic Strait of Hormuz, Tasnim News Agency reported.
The Italian warship had docked in Bandar Abbas last Saturday for a four-day stay.
Azad said the Iranian Navy's Alvand and Alborz destroyers as well as a helicopter of the navy along with a helicopter of the Euro warship participated in the joint drills, and conducted intelligence and surveillance operations.
"The drills were aimed at boosting military power and exchanging military knowhow and information between the two countries' navies," he said.
Following a welcome ceremony in Bandar Abbas last Saturday, top Iranian Navy commanders and the visiting warship's captain as well as Italy's ambassador in Tehran and the European country's military attache in Iran held a meeting.
Earlier in September, a five-member military delegation from the Italian Army, led by Rear Admiral Roberto Chia Marcella, traveled to Iran and visited different units of the Iranian Armed Forces.
The ranking Italian official invited the Iranian Navy to send a fleet to Italy as well.
Every year, Iran holds a number of joint military war games with other countries and senior Iranian military officials also make reciprocal visits to other states.
