Iran unexpectedly announced Wednesday that it would be holding military maneuvers in the Gulf this week, only days after U.S.-led navies held exercises in the same waterway.
Iranian state television quoted the head of the Revolutionary Guards, Gen. Yahya Rahim Safavi, as saying the 10-day maneuvers, named "Great Prophet," would take place in the Gulf and the Sea of Oman, beginning Thursday.
"The war games are aimed at demonstrating the deterrent power of the guards against possible threats," Safavi said.
Safavi stressed the drills were not a threat to neighboring countries, saying: "Our neighbors are our friends. The guards just want to prove that they ready to resist in any threatening situation."
His announcement came two days after U.S.-led warships finished a two-day maneuver in the Gulf — an exercise that Iran described as "adventurist."
It will be interesting to see if the Iranians pull out any new tricks from their playbook such as showing off those new
minisubs,
long range missiles, or
shkval rockets. These kinds of wargames tend to provide more insight into the military preparedness of Iran than otherwise possible. It also bears noting
what the Iranians said the last time they engaged in these activities.
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