Iran holds military drill, says ready for 'any threat'

By Syed Zafar Mehdi

TEHRAN (AA) - Iran's revolutionary corps (IRGC) on Thursday kickstarted another major military drill in southwest of the country, a day after marking the 42nd anniversary of 1979 revolution.

Brig. Gen. Mohammad Pakpour, IRGC ground forces commander, announced the beginning of the drill codenamed Great Prophet 15, amid simmering tensions in the Persian Gulf region.

He said the exercise, a follow up on a series of recent military drills, aims to evaluate the "latest achievements and capabilities, review the new operational potential and test the operational strength" of IRGC's combat and defense equipment.

The top military official said the IRGC's ground forces are "fully prepared for any possible threat," alluding to tensions between Tehran and Washington.

It comes days after the US amphibious warship Makin Island (LHD-8) passed through the Strait of Hormuz and entered the waters of Persian Gulf, according to the US Central Command.

It said the ship seeks to "support stability and security in the US Central Command," which monitors US operations in 20 regional countries, including Iran.

It is the second US capital warship to operate in the Persian Gulf, close to Iran's territorial waters, since Nimitz (CVN-68), which spent two months in the Persian Gulf between September and November.

Tensions between Tehran and Washington, which saw dizzying escalation in the final months of former US president Donald Trump's tenure, continue to simmer despite the Joe Biden's interest in opening a new chapter with Iran.

The two sides differ over modalities of reviving the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, with each side waiting for the other to make the first move.

Amid the stalemate, military buildup in the Persian Gulf region continues, as both sides seek to heighten preparedness for any eventuality.

The latest military exercise in the southwest Iran follows a series of drills in recent weeks by the IRGC and armed forces involving homegrown missiles, drones, helicopters, submarines, military ships, and UAVs.

On Wednesday, the IRGC exhibited a range of ballistic missiles in Tehran to commemorate the 42nd anniversary of Iranian revolution.

The missiles include Zolfaqar Basir with a range of 700 km, Dezfoul with a range of 1,000 km and Qiyam with a range of 800 km, developed by the IRGC's aerospace division.

Earlier this week, the corps' naval force in southern Hormozgan province received 340 speedboats capable of carrying and launching missiles, beside supporting diving operations.

This year, a total of 112 missile launchers, 188 unmanned aerial vehicles, 340 speedboats and a warship has joined the IRGC fleet.