Iran temporarily closes parts of Strait of Hormuz during drills

Dubai, Feb 18: Iran has said it temporarily closed the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf, as it conducted live fire exercises in the vital waterway, through which 20% of the world's oil passes.

Earlier, the country announced that parts of the Strait of Hormuz will close for a few hours on Tuesday due to 'security precautions' for shipping safety, semi-official Fars news agency reported, as the Revolutionary Guards conduct military drills in the waterway, report agencies.

The strait is the world's most vital oil export route, which connects the biggest Gulf oil producers, such as Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq and the United Arab Emirates, with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea.