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January 9, 2012

U.S. and Iran to Hold Major Military Exercises in the Persian Gulf 
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Iran and the United States have both announced plans to hold major
military exercises in the Persian Gulf in the coming months. The U.S.
exercise will be done in conjunction with Israel. Meanwhile, in defiance
of the United States, Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez has welcomed
Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to Venezuela.

On Friday, a State Department official said, "We are making absolutely
clear to countries around the world that now is not the time to be
deepening ties, not security ties, not economic ties, with Iran."



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