Tehraninfo-icon: Iraninfo-icon's Revolutionary Guards confirmed on Sunday it had held warinfo-icon games in the Gulf over the past several days, saying they were aimed at "confronting possible threats" by enemies, the state news state news agency IRNA reported.

"This exercise was conducted with the aim of controlling and safeguarding the safety of the international waterway and within the framework of the programme of the Guards' annual military exercises," Guards spokesman Ramezan Sharif said, according to IRNA.

Guards commander Mohammad Ali Jafari "expressed satisfaction over the successful conduct of the Guards naval exercise, emphasising the need to maintain and enhance defence readiness and the security of the Gulf and the Strait of Hormuzinfo-icon and to confront threats and potential adventurous acts of enemies," IRNA quoted Sharif as saying.

One U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said possibly more than 100 vessels were involved in the drills, including small boats.

Iran has been furious over U.S. President Donald Trumpinfo-icon's decision to pull out of an international agreement on Iran's nuclear programme and re-impose sanctions on Tehran. Senior Iranian officials have warned the country would not easily yield to a renewed U.S. campaign to strangle Iran's vital oilinfo-icon exports.