Iran’s Regular Armed Forces to Hold Massive Drills This Week

6-Day Exercises Start on Thursday, Include All Branches of Artesh

Iran’s regular armed forces, Artesh, will stage massive drills on Thursday, Navy Commander Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayari announced today. The exercises, code named ‘Mohammad Rasouallah,’ will be joint maneuvers involving Artesh’s Naval, Ground and Air Forces, with the support of Khatam al-Anbia Air Defense Forces, and will last for six days, Adm. Sayyari added. The wargames will cover an area east of the Strait of Hormuz and the Gulf of Oman, the area of responsibility for Iran’s regular Navy. (Fars News Agency, 23 December)

Sayyari said the Armed Forces would deploy units, equipment and weapons to showcase Iran’s military power. The Navy would deploy frigates, submarines, aircraft and helicopters, and anti-ship cruise missiles. It is expected that the Navy would also deploy Naval infantry personnel as in similar exercises previously. The Ground Forces could deploy brigade-sized elements and Special Forces. The Air Force will deploy aircraft, including F-4 Phantoms capable of launching anti-ship cruise missiles.

By the size of the drills announced today, it appears that ‘Mohammad Rasouallah’ would encompass annual Velayat naval exercises and Ground Forces’ annual drills, supported by the Air Force and Khatam al-Anbia Air Defense Forces. And these wargames would be the biggest by Artesh in many years.

File photo: IRIF formation of F-14A Tomcats flown from Isfahan’s Shahid Beheshti Tactical Air Base during Military Day 2014; Tehran, April 2014 (IRNA)

Iran Air Force Drill to Kick Start Velayat-92 Exercises

Iran’s air force is holding a two-day air drill over the Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf starting today, said Brig. Gen. Ali Reza Barkhor, acting air force commander. (IRNA, 20 December)

The IRIAF as well as IRGC-AF participated in today's joint drill, code-named Defenders of Velayat Sanctuary 4, which kick starts the annual Velayat exercises that would involve Artesh and IRGC branches of the military. 

In a remarkable and noticeable departure from the past, the Iranian military has toned down rhetoric in its announcements of the exercises, not issuing any warnings against potential adversaries. The reason seems to be the strategic importance of the on-going nuclear negotiations with the U.S. and other major powers for the new moderate government in Tehran and their eventual success.

File Photo: IRIAF F-4E Phantoms (Airliners.net)