Iran's Revolutionary Guard will hold a three-day military exercise starting today to showcase the nation's "resolve and readiness," state-run Press TV reported, citing aviation commander General Amir-Ali Hajizadeh.
In the exercise, named the "Great Prophet VII", long, medium, and short-range missiles (Shahab II and III, Zelzal, Fateh, Tondar, Khalij fars, Qiyam) stationed in various locations across the country will be used against targets in Iran's northern Semnan desert, Hajizadeh said, the news channel reported.
Fighter jets and unmanned bombers will also be used on the final day of the exercise, Hajizadeh said in the report, published on Press TV's website yesterday.
In January 2012 Commander of IRGC's Navy Ali Fadevi said that the "Great Prophet VII" naval military maneuvers will take place in an area of Persian Gulf and the Hormuz Strait.
Fadevi also said that "maneuvers will demonstrate the strength of IRGC", and also pointed out that "this maneuver will be different from the ones Iran held before".
The "Great Prophet IV" land exercises were held in Iran in June-July of 2011. During those, Iran introduced missiles launched from an underground launcher and tested the Fateh-10 missile.
According to Tehran, the exercises were held solely to demonstrate the country's defense abilities under the slogan "peace and friendship."
Iran announced that the war drills are a "message of peace and friendship to countries of the region." The Islamic Republic stated it felt no exterior threat, apart from the U.S. and Israel, and that the missiles pose no danger to Europe.
Tehran stated it has the technical capability to build missiles which could reach Europe. However, right now there is no intention of pursuing it.
Edited by: S. Isayev