The exercises come after Israel and the US conducted missile strikes against Tehran’s nuclear facilities earlier this year
Tehran has carried out large-scale naval and missile drills in the Sea of Oman, the Strait of Hormuz, and the Persian Gulf, Iranian media reported on Friday. The exercises come months after Israel and the US struck Iranian nuclear facilities during a 12-day conflict in June.
The two-day drills started on Thursday and have involved ballistic and cruise missile launches, drone strikes on simulated targets, and air defense operations, state news outlets reported.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy fired Qadr-110, Qadr-380, Qadir, and 303 missiles from positions deep inside the country. The designated targets in the Gulf of Oman were hit with precision, according to local media. Drones reportedly simultaneously struck simulated enemy bases as part of the exercise.
According to Press TV, the drill was intended to convey “peace and friendship to neighboring countries,” while also warning that “any miscalculation by enemies will face a decisive response.”
Naval units reportedly practiced air defense engagements against incoming targets and trained to withstand electronic warfare. Reports have also highlighted the use of ship-based air defense systems during the drill.
The wargames follow months of heightened tensions in the region. In June, Israel and the US carried out coordinated airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan, claiming they were intended to prevent Iran from advancing its nuclear program. Tehran has vehemently denied seeking nuclear weapons and has condemned the strikes as unprovoked violations of its sovereignty.
Iranian officials have since said that damaged facilities will be rebuilt and continue uranium enrichment. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has said the strikes did not halt Iran’s enrichment capabilities, while President Masoud Pezeshkian has stated that the sites will be restored.
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This week, Iran also hosted an anti-terrorism exercise in East Azerbaijan province with Shanghai Cooperation Organization participants, which include China, Russia, India, Pakistan, and several Central Asian countries. Iranian officials said these activities demonstrate Iran’s focus on internal security and international security cooperation.
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