Tehran, 3 June 2023 (dpa/MIA) - A senior Iranian commander on Saturday announced the formation of a new naval alliance in the Persian Gulf, comprising Iran, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Oman, Qatar, Iraq and India.

"Soon we will witness our region being liberated from unauthorized forces," navy chief Shahram Irani said, according to Iran's Fars news agency. "The people of the region will play a dominant role in the field of security by deploying their own military personnel."

There was initially no confirmation of the alliance from the respective countries.

The announcement follows the recent rapprochement between former rivals Iran and Saudi Arabia, which experts say has brought about major strategic changes in the region.

Iranian officials had previously announced plans to include other states in an alliance after a naval exercise with Russia and China in March. In the face of international sanctions, Iran has expanded its partnership with those countries.

The United States, Iran's arch-enemy, also has a powerful naval presence in the Gulf. From its base on the island state of Bahrain, the US Fifth Fleet patrols waters in the region and regularly inspects ships in international waters for possible arms shipments.

Military incidents in the Gulf have periodically triggered fierce political tensions. In particular, the Strait of Hormuz, a 55-kilometre-wide strait between Iran and Oman, is considered one of the most important shipping routes for global oil exports.