An Iranian lawmaker said regional states should maintain security in Persian Gulf, Press TV reported Thursday.

Instead of resorting to Western military forces, such as those of the United States, the security of Persian Gulf should be maintained through cooperation among Muslim countries in the region, Mohammad-Hassan Asafari, a member of Iran's Majlis ( parliament) National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, was quoted as saying.

Asafari pointed to "high capabilities" of Iran's Navy, expressing the country's readiness to stage joint maneuvers with Muslim countries in the region, said that report.

"Regional countries should make use of the Iranian Navy's high capabilities to ensure security and peace in the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman," he said Wednesday.

The Iranian lawmaker referred to the recent joint rescue and relief drills by the naval forces of Iran and Oman, and noted that such exercises are conducted due to the significance of the strategic Persian Gulf and the two countries' roles in maintaining regional security.

Such drills will boost the readiness of security and relief forces to give a quick response to the maritime accidents that happen to warships and merchant ships as well as possible earthquakes, Asafari added.

On Tuesday, Iranian and Omani naval forces held a joint rescue and relief drill in Iran's southern territorial waters, in which part of the Iranian navy units as well as several units of Oman's Royal Navy Force participated.

Since 2010, Iran and Omani forces have held several joint rescue drills off the coast of their waters.

Iran has launched several military maneuvers in the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman in the past years, with the Iranian military officials reiterating their calls for joint military drills of the regional Islamic states.

Iranian military officials have threatened to close the strategic Strait of Hormuz in the face of mounting Western pressure.