U.S. leads antinuclear naval exercise

A U.S.-led naval training exercise aimed at testing procedures to block smuggling of nuclear weapons began in the Persian Gulf, the first of its kind since North Korea’s nuclear test and amid tensions over Iran’s nuclear program.

Iran called the two-day maneuvers “adventurist,” but the Foreign Ministry said the Islamic Republic’s response would be “rational and wise.”

The maneuvers were taking place under the U.S.-led Proliferation Security Initiative, which is designed to counter trafficking in weapons of mass destruction, their delivery systems and related materials, the U.S. Navy said.