DATE: Wednesday, October 8, 1997            TAG: 9710080470

SECTION: FRONT                   PAGE: A12  EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS

DATELINE: TEHRAN, IRAN                      LENGTH:   34 lines

IRAN PLANS NAVAL WAR GAMES WHILE NIMITZ STEAMS TO GULF

As the carrier Nimitz sped Tuesday toward the Persian Gulf to keep Iran and Iraq in check, Iran's defense minister announced new naval maneuvers this week involving more than 50 warships.

Ali Shamkhani said the 10-day exercises would begin Saturday.

On Friday, the Nimitz was ordered to head for the region two weeks ahead of schedule in response to Sept. 29 raids by Iranian jets on two Iraqi bases of an Iranian opposition group, the Mujahedeen Khalq.

The Clinton administration told Iran its raids violated a U.S.-enforced ``no-fly'' zone in southern Iraq and could trigger retaliation. The United States also warned Iraq not to attempt other flights.

The Nimitz is expected to arrive in the region by mid-October.

Shamkhani said the exercises would be carried out in a 15,000-square-mile area by Islamic Revolution Guard Corps, Iran's main fighting force.

Three Russian submarines in service with the Iranian navy also would take part in the maneuvers, along with scores of warplanes, helicopters and machine-gun mounted speedboats.

Iran condemns the presence of more than 20,000 U.S. forces in the Persian Gulf, which it considers its sphere of influence.

The United States maintains about 20 combat and support ships in the Persian Gulf at all times. The U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet is based in Bahrain.

Also Tuesday, the chiefs of staff of the six Gulf Cooperation Council nations announced that they would hold joint air force exercises. They did not give a date. The GCC is made up of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman and the United Arab Emirates.

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