TEHRAN Iran will hold four days of naval and air force maneuvers beginning April 13 in the Strait of Hormoz and the Sea of Oman, news repots said here Monday.

The exercises, codenamed as "Unity-80," will be held over an area of 50,000 square kilometers (29,700 square miles) of water, and are aimed at making the "third zone" of the Chabahar naval base in the Sea of Oman operational, a military official was cited as saying.

The Islamic Republic's three submarines will also take part in the maneuvers.

The air force and navy hold some 40 maneuvers per year in the Persian Gulf waters and the Sea of Oman.