Iran on Tuesday began a major two-day air defence drill in its sprawling central desert, state TV reported, the latest show of force by the Islamic Republic. The report said both the army and the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard were participating in the annual maneuvers dubbed “Velyat”.
Iran periodically conducts such exercises and says that they analyse the troops’ combat preparedness and manifest the nation’s military capabilities.
Earlier in October, Iran conducted a drill near its border with Azerbaijan, displaying its military capabilities near its neighbour about whom it is skeptical of its ties with the West and Israel. Azerbaijan and Israel have bolstered their military alliance in recent months, with Israeli-supplied high-tech drones helping Azerbaijan in its conflict with Armenia last year.
The region remains on edge over Iran’s increasing nuclear program. Talks in Vienna to restart Tehran’s shattered 2015 accord with world powers have stalled since June 2021. With these talks stalled, Iran has violated limits set by the nuclear deal and is enriching small amounts of uranium to its closest-ever levels to weapon-grade purity as its stockpile continues to grow.
