Iran launches missiles to start new round of war games

Nov 2, 2006, 11:55 GMT

Tehran - Iran's Islamic Revolution's Guard Corps launched several missiles Thursday at the start of a new round of war games throughout the country, including in the Persian Gulf and Sea of Oman where naval manoeuvres led by the US are currently taking place.

The 10-day Iranian manoeuvres code-named 'Grand Prophet (Mohammed) 2' began with the firing of various missiles including the Shahab-2 which can carry cluster warheads as well as the more powerful Shahab- 3 missile, state television IRIB reported.

The medium-range Shahab-3 missile reportedly has a range of between 1,300 and 2,000 kilometres and has caused grave concern in Israel. However, Teheran has assured the international community that the missiles are for defensive purposes only.

The commander of the paramilitary Revolutionary Guards, General Yahya Rahim-Safavi said on Wednesday that the most important aim of the manoeuvres is to show Iran's determination to defend itself against all threats.

'These manoeuvres are neither a threat to the region nor our neighbours who are considered as our friends. Our enemies are also their enemies, though,' he said during a press conference in Tehran.

Iran held its last military exercises in August and proclaimed to have successfully tested its first home-made fighter plane Saeqeh (Lightning), similar to the US F-18 fighter but redesigned and remodelled by Iranian experts.