Iran’s military has initiated exercises focusing on air defense systems near the Natanz nuclear enrichment facility, as part of nationwide drills, according to state media reports on Tuesday.
The drills, called Eqtedar—meaning “might” in Farsi—are being conducted by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), the ideological wing of Iran’s military, in coordination with the regular army.
State television reported, “The first phase of the joint Eqtedar exercises in the air defense zone of the Natanz nuclear facility has commenced under the orders of the air defense headquarters commander.”
It was also noted that IRGC air forces were conducting “an all-out point defense” of the site, protecting it “against a multitude of air threats in tough electronic warfare conditions.”
On Monday, IRGC spokesman Ali Mohammad Naini explained that these drills, which will extend to other regions of Iran until mid-March, were a response to “new security threats,” although he did not provide further details.
Naini also mentioned that several IRGC branches, including the navy and the paramilitary Basij forces, would be involved in the exercises.
In late October, Israel conducted strikes on significant military sites in Iran, targeting its air defense and missile production capabilities in retaliation for a massive ballistic missile assault on Israel earlier that month.
Iran’s missile attack came in retaliation for Israel’s assassinations of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran in July and Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in September, involving hundreds of ballistic missiles aimed at Israel, which triggered sirens across the country.
Although there were no casualties, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed that certain airbases were damaged, though the Air Force’s operational capacity remained intact.
Israel’s retaliation damaged Iran’s missile production capabilities and some elements of its nuclear program, according to Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu and the IDF. However, they noted that the damage to the nuclear program was not severe enough to impede its progress.
The Israeli strikes also reportedly crippled much of Iran’s air defense systems, including its four Russian-made S-300 systems.
Last week, the US news outlet Axios reported that National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan had presented President Joe Biden with options for a possible U.S. strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities, should Tehran advance towards nuclear weapons development before January 20, when Donald Trump assumes office.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei strongly condemned the reports, describing threats against Iran’s nuclear facilities as “a gross violation of international law.”
Iran insists that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes and denies any intent to develop nuclear weapons.
Nevertheless, Iran, which has pledged to destroy Israel, has been ramping up its production of enriched uranium in recent years, and it is the only non-nuclear state to have uranium enriched to 60%, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
This level of enrichment is well on the path to reaching 90%, which is the threshold for creating a nuclear bomb, far exceeding what is needed for civilian nuclear energy.
Tensions surrounding Iran’s nuclear program escalated after the United States, under Trump’s first term, withdrew from the landmark nuclear deal, which had provided Tehran with sanctions relief in exchange for limits on its nuclear activities.
{Matzav.com}
