Special report:
Iran Nuclear Crisis
TEHRAN, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- The Iranian army launched
a large-scale military exercise on Saturday, the official IRNA news agency
reported.
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Iranian soldiers take part in a
large-scale military exercise Aug. 19, 2006. (Xinhua/AFP
Photo)
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The
first stage of the military exercise started in the northeastern, northwestern,
western and southern parts of Iran, according to the report.
Assault and transport helicopters, parachutists,
electronic war units and special forces will take part in the initial maneuver,
said the report.
Meanwhile, the state-run television reported that the
massive military exercise, aimed at introducing new defensive doctrine, would
take place in 14 of Iran's 30 provinces and would last for about five weeks.
"Our main objective of this exercise is to adopt new
tactics and use new equipment able to cope with possible threats," Brigadier
General Kiumars Heydari, spokesman of the exercise, was quoted by the television
as saying.
"We have been vigilant to what has happened in the
world, and we have invested in both modern tactics and equipment," he added.
In addition, the television reported that a new
anti-aircraft system was tested, which was able to "make the air space unsafe
for the enemies" with cooperation of land forces, helicopters and fighter jets.
The army headquarters in the southeastern province of
Sistan Baluchestan is commanding the ongoing war games, the television added.
Earlier reports said that 12 infantry regiments would
participate in the exercise dubbed "The Blow of Zolfaghar". Zolfaghar is the
sword used by Imam Ali, one of the most revered figures for Shiite Muslims.
In April, Iran launched another large-scale military
exercise, the biggest in several years.
During the game, Iran said that it had tested
advanced weapons including missiles and torpedoes.
The new military exercise came when Tehran is facing heightened pressure as a UN Security Council resolution urges it to halt uranium enrichment by Aug. 31. Enditem
