Iran's state radio says the country has inaugurated a new naval base on the eastern part of the strategic waterway at the mouth of the Persian Gulf.
Tuesday's report quotes Iran's naval chief, Adm. Habibollah Sayyari. He says the base on the Strait of Hormuz creates a new line of defense.
Sayyari says if necessary the base could allow Iran to block entry of any "enemy" into the Persian Gulf.
The base is in the port town of Jask, about 1,050 miles (1,700 kilometers) south of Tehran.
Iran has warned that it would close the narrow strait if the U.S. attacks it over Tehran's disputed nuclear program. About 40 percent of the world's oil passes through the strait.
Tuesday's report quotes Iran's naval chief, Adm. Habibollah Sayyari. He says the base on the Strait of Hormuz creates a new line of defense.
Sayyari says if necessary the base could allow Iran to block entry of any "enemy" into the Persian Gulf.
The base is in the port town of Jask, about 1,050 miles (1,700 kilometers) south of Tehran.
Iran has warned that it would close the narrow strait if the U.S. attacks it over Tehran's disputed nuclear program. About 40 percent of the world's oil passes through the strait.