TEHRAN, Oct 28: 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 defence.

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 1,700km south of Tehran.

Iran has warned that it would close the narrow strait if the US attacks it over Tehran’s disputed nuclear programme. About 40 per cent of the world’s oil passes through the strait.—AP