WASHINGTON, Oct 27: Six nations will participate in naval manoeuvres in the Gulf near Iran, designed to stop nuclear proliferation, a US State Department official said on Friday.

On Monday, Australia, Bahrain, Britain, France, Italy and the United States will participate as part of an 80-nation Proliferation Security Initiative, the official told journalists on condition of anonymity.

The exercise will simulate inspection of a “target vessel carrying materials useful to a nuclear weapon programme,” destined for a “country of proliferation concern in the region,” the source said.—AFP

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