Iran’s navy is set to test-fire a variety of missiles in war games in the Strait of Hormuz, a spokesman said today, underlining Tehran’s threat to close the strategic oil waterway if new Western sanctions are applied.

Commodore Mahmoud Mousavi told state television in a live interview: “In the next days, we will test-fire all kinds of surface-to-sea, sea-to-sea and surface-to-air as well as shoulder-launched missiles.”

One Iranian news agency, Fars, reported earlier that the tests had already begun using “long-range missiles” fired from shore and from ships.

The 10 days of navy exercises started December 24 and are due to end on Monday.

Twenty per cent of the world’s oil moves through the Strait of Hormuz, at the entrance of the Gulf, making it the “most important chokepoint” globally, according to information released yesterday by the US Energy Information Administration.

Around 14 crude oil tankers per day pass through the narrow strait, carrying 17 million barrels. In all, 35 per cent of all seaborne oil transited through there this year.

Iran has said that “not a drop of oil” would pass through the strait if Western governments follow through with planned additional sanctions over its nuclear programme.

Military chiefs have said it would be “really easy” for them to close the strait.

The US had called the threats “irrational behaviour” and said closure of the strait “will not be tolerated.”

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