A senior military commander says Iran’s elite Islamic Revolution Guards Corps has begun military drills codenamed "Martyrs of Unity" in the eastern part of the country.

Commander of the Corps' Ground Forces Brigadier General Mohammad Pakpour said the first phase of the exercise started on Saturday in the vicinity of Khaf city in Iran’s Khorasan province, adding that the main phase of the maneuvers will kick off on Monday.

Bolstering security along Iran’s border areas and strengthening the combat readiness of the Ground Forces are the main goals of the drills. Local media quoted an IRGC Navy Commander saying that the country's Navy plans to hold a large-scale military maneuver in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz in February.

The Strait of Hormuz, connecting the Persian Gulf with the Sea of Oman, is one of the world’s most critical oil routes. Any incidents here could cause global oil markets to fluctuate.