The Iranian army is carrying out military tests near the Bushehr nuclear power plant in the south of the country to "increase the level of preparedness" of its troops against possible threats

Iran prepares for possible attack, begins air defence exercises

photo_camera AFP/HO/PRESIDENCIA IRAN - Members of the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)

Amid escalating tensions between Tehran and Tel Aviv, the Islamic Republic of Iran began an air defence exercise in the country's southern provinces on Monday. A military manoeuvre with "full coordination of the Armed Forces" took place at around 05:00 local time in the vicinity of the Bushehr nuclear power plant, according to Mohammad Taqi Irani, the province's deputy governor general for political, social and security affairs, Iran's Fars news agency reported. 

"The drills have already begun in order to increase the combat readiness of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) by using the most advanced equipment and tactics to deal with perceived threats and hybrid warfare," the deputy governor added. 

The start of these manoeuvres comes days after Israeli Defence Minister Benjamin Gantz warned of an increased Iranian military presence in the western part of the country, particularly threatening Israel. "We are preparing for this attempt and we will do everything necessary to protect our citizens and our territory," Gantz said after a meeting with his US counterpart, Lloyd Austin. Indeed, Tel Aviv's warnings of a confrontation to end Iran's nuclear programme have been constant since the resumption of the JCPOA (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action) talks last November. 

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"Any threat to the nuclear and military sites of the Islamic Republic of Iran by the Zionist regime is not possible without the green light and support of the United States," said Gholamali Rashid, commander of the Central Headquarters Khatam-al Anbiya, on the possibility of an Israeli attack. "In case such threats become practical, the Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran will immediately attack all centres, bases, routes and spaces used for the passage and origin of aggression," Rashid added.

These military manoeuvres will take place over five days starting on 20 December, and will include units of the Ground Forces, Naval Forces and Air Force of the Revolutionary Guard Corps, as well as some specialised cyber-security troops and units of the paramilitary Basich organisation - subordinate to the IRGC. Its exercises will be located off the coast of the southern provinces of Hormozgan, Bushehr and Khuzestan, and will aim to "increase the IRGC's combat readiness based on the modelling of one of the most advanced plans for high, medium and low intensity offensives, in combination with different types of operations, including covert ones, which are used in hybrid warfare," said the deputy commander of Revolutionary Guard operations, General Abbas Nilforushan, in his statement to IRIB (Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting). 

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In addition to the launch of these tests, Tehran has recently announced an increase in its defence budget for 2022, reaching 4.5 billion euros. This, added to the postponement of negotiations on the nuclear deal - apparently until after Christmas - could increase the concerns of Western powers and further complicate already difficult talks. 

Iran is "wasting precious time", European diplomats said of the Persians' stance in the Austrian capital. Thus, as long as Iranian representatives refuse to meet with their US counterparts and continue to press ahead with their rigid line of demands, the hardline Israeli position - which predicts the failure of these negotiations - will continue to gain traction. Especially in the US, where Joe Biden has already called for the creation of other options in case "diplomacy fails" with Iran. 

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