Iran Launches First Naval Drill Since 12-Day War By The Media Line Staff Iran on Thursday launched its first naval exercise since the conclusion of its 12-day war with Israel, state television reported. The “Sustainable Power 1404” maneuvers took place in the Gulf of Oman and the Indian Ocean and included the firing of cruise […]
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The Media Line: Iran Launches First Naval Drill Since 12-Day War
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Iran Launches First Naval Drill Since 12-Day War
By The Media Line Staff
Iran on Thursday launched its first naval exercise since the conclusion of its 12-day war with Israel, state television reported. The “Sustainable Power 1404” maneuvers took place in the Gulf of Oman and the Indian Ocean and included the firing of cruise missiles from naval vessels and the use of drones over open waters. No video of the activity was immediately released.
Although Iranian authorities described the exercise as routine, its timing has been noted by observers. The drill follows a conflict in which Israeli forces targeted air defense systems, nuclear facilities, and other sites, raising questions about Tehran’s ability to respond in any future confrontation.
Iran’s regular navy, based in the southern port city of Bandar Abbas and estimated at 18,000 personnel, oversees operations in the Gulf of Oman, the Indian Ocean, and the Caspian Sea. The Revolutionary Guard typically patrols the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, where its forces have previously seized foreign vessels and shadowed US Navy ships.
On Wednesday, Defense Minister Brig. Gen. Aziz Nasirzadeh said Iranian forces had been equipped with new missiles, declaring they were prepared to use them “in response to any potential enemy adventurism.”
The exercise comes amid renewed friction over Iran’s nuclear program. Tehran has suspended cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency, which has monitored its enrichment activities as they approach weapons-grade levels. France, Germany, and the United Kingdom have warned that unless Iran reaches a resolution with the agency by August 31, they will move to restore United Nations sanctions previously lifted under the 2015 nuclear agreement.
Analysts caution that such measures could inflict further economic strain on Iran, already burdened by years of US sanctions.