TEHRAN (Dispatches) -- An Italian frigate has held maneuvers with two Iranian warships in the Strait of Hormuz after making a rare Western port call in the Islamic Republic, an Iranian commander said Wednesday.
The Italian frigate Euro sailed to the strait for the maneuvers with Iranian ships Alvand and Alborz after making the port call in Bandar Abbas on Saturday, Admiral Hussein Azad told the official IRNA news agency. An Iranian and an Italian helicopter also took part, he said. Italian Ambassador Mauro Conciatori described the port call as "a positive sign in mutual relations that can increase the bond between the two countries.”