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TEHRAN: Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards will stage three days of military exercises from Monday amid a mounting standoff with the West over its nuclear drive, the state-run television website reported Sunday.
Short-range missiles will be tested during the war games, taking place just a month after the UN Security Council imposed sanctions on Iran over its refusal to suspend uranium enrichment.
“In these exercises we will assess the operational capabilities of Zelzal and Fajr 5 missiles,” an artillery commander with the Revolutionary Guards, Majid Ayeneh, was quoted as saying.
Military sources have reported that Fajr 5 has a range of around 75 kilometres (46 miles) while Zezal has been reported to have a range of between 100 to 400 kilometres.
The announcement of the exercises comes a day after Iran's top nuclear negotiator said the nation's armed forces were ready to face any threat to its nuclear installations amid speculation Washington may be planning a military strike.
In November 2006, Iran test-fired its Shahab-3 ballistic missile, which which has a range of up to 2,000 kilometers (1,200 miles) — sufficient to threaten US bases in the Gulf.
The latest exercises will be held about 140 kilometres (90 miles) southeast of the capital Tehran.
