Iran's Revolutionary Guards launch Gulf war games

Military maneuver comes amid increased tensions with between Jerusalem and Tehran, with Iranian general warning of a 'crushing' response to any Israeli move against Islamic Republic

Reuters|
Iran's Revolutionary Guards fired ballistic and cruise missiles on Tuesday during war games in the Gulf, state TV reported, amid heightened tensions with the United States and Israel over possible Israeli plans to target Iranian nuclear sites.
  • Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter

  • "The use of ballistic missiles by the Revolutionary Guards' navy is a new concept ... and they hit their targets with 100% precision," Guards chief General Hossein Salami told the broadcaster.
    2 View gallery
    Iranian troops attend a maneuver in a coastal area in southeastern Iran
    Iranian troops attend a maneuver in a coastal area in southeastern Iran
    Iranian troops attend a maneuver in a coastal area in southeastern Iran
    (Photo: AP)
    Iran says its ballistic missiles have a range of 2,000 km (1,200 miles) and are capable of reaching arch-foe Israel and U.S. bases in the region.
    On Monday, Iran warned of a "crushing" response to any move against it by Israel, which opposes efforts by world powers to revive Tehran's 2015 nuclear deal and has long threatened military action if diplomacy fails to prevent it from acquiring a nuclear bomb. Iran says its nuclear ambitions are peaceful.
    Israel is widely believed to be the only Middle Eastern country with a nuclear arsenal.
    The exercises also included the simultaneous firing of five cruise missiles and the launch of armed drones capable of hitting two targets each, Iranian media reported. The five-day drills began on Monday.
    Separately, U.S. national Security Adviser Jake Sullivan will visit Israel this week for detailed discussions with Prime Minister Naftali Bennett on Iran's nuclear program, a senior Biden administration official said on Monday.
    2 View gallery
    U. S. National Security advisor Jake Sullivan speaking ahead of his Mideast visit
    U. S. National Security advisor Jake Sullivan speaking ahead of his Mideast visit
    U.S. National Security advisor Jake Sullivan
    (Photo: AP)
    Speaking to reporters on condition of anonymity, the official said the U.S. and Israeli officials will talk about how they see the coming weeks unfolding with Iran and the talks in Vienna.
    "We will talk about where we see the state of Iran's nuclear program and some of the timelines," the official said. "It will be a good opportunity to sit down face-to-face and talk about the state of the talks, the timeframe in which we are working and to re-emphasize that we don't have much time."
    In his talks with the Israelis, Sullivan will reaffirm the U.S. commitment to Israel's security, the White House said in a statement.
    Sullivan, joined by the National Security Council's Middle East director Brett McGurk and other U.S. officials, is expected to arrive in Israel on Tuesday.
    Comments
    The commenter agrees to the privacy policy of Ynet News and agrees not to submit comments that violate the terms of use, including incitement, libel and expressions that exceed the accepted norms of freedom of speech.
    ""