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Iran flexes muscles with large-scale military drills

Xinhua, April 12, 2016 Adjust font size:

Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) began on Tuesday large-scale military drills in the southeastern part of the country, Press TV reported.

Codenamed the Great Prophet, the drills started in Sistan-and-Baluchestan province, the report said, adding that the IRGC has deployed 10 reconnaissance drones.

The three-day drills will also be held in the provinces of Kerman, South Khorasan and Hormozgan in the east and south of Iran, Commander of the IRGC Ground Forces Brigadier General Mohammad Pakpour was quoted as saying.

The manoeuvres are partially aimed at maintaining the preparedness of the IRGC forces, displaying the Iranian Armed Forces' might, improving security of the region and implementing certain tactics, Pakpour said.

The IRGC staged missile drills and test-fired several ballistic missiles in March, which incited the criticism of the West that fears that Iran's missile program might be developed for carrying nuclear warheads.

Iran has denied the allegations, insisting on defensive and peaceful nature of its missile plan. Endit