Revolutionary guards military maneuvres: widespread planting of mines in the Persian gulf

Iran Press News: The regime-run news agency Entekhob, quoting an informed source has reported of the revolutionary guards maneuver which will begin on Thursday, November 2nd. Reportedly the plan is the widespread planting of under-water mines in the Persian gulf.

The informed source said: “Testing the discharge capacity of the various kinds of missiles as well as long-range missiles with cluster warheads, shoulder missiles and anti-helicopter Katyushas, and extensive mine planting in the Persian gulf, are the most likely activities planned for said maneuvers. The purpose for these maneuvers is to promote defense readiness and assess the effectiveness of new weapons. The air force, army, navy and Basij forces* will be taking part in these 10-day-long maneuvers.

Revolutionary guards’ nationwide maneuver to test fire long-range Shahab missiles

Earlier the regime-run news agency Fars reported that as of Thursday, November 2nd, the revolutionary guards plan a nationwide maneuver to test fire the long-range Shahab missiles.

During a press conference that took place in Tehran on Wednesday morning, Nov. 1st, Commandant of the revolutionary guards Rahim Safavi said: "The most important objectives of these maneuvers is the show of the Islamic Republic’s force and authority in defense against threats as well as strengthening and exercising deterrent capabilities of our forces, against threats. The forces participating in this years’ second maneuver include specialized air force, army and the naval units. The army's air units will fire tens of missiles including Shahab 2 and 3 with cluster bombs that have more than a thousand kilometer range, 110 Fateh missiles, 73 Zolfaghar missiles and hundreds of rockets with different ranges, from 150 Kilometers and up."

Safavi also made mention of the presence of the Basij forces, as another part of the maneuvers, whose mission, according to him are "defending the streets and urban areas in case of encounter with potential unrest”.

Safavi also made very clear threats of terrorist attacks and explicitly spoke of suicide-bombers who are under his direct command, saying: "Those forces that have been trained in the ‘culture’ of martyrdom-seeking are, among the unique features of the Islamic republic’s armed forces that are comparable to other armies around the world."

In an interview with the regime-run news agency, MEHR, revolutionary guard Mohsen Rezaii, the former commandant of the revolutionary guard (during the Iran-Iraq war) expressed concern about the way the United Nations security council had handled the Islamic regime’s nuclear dossier; Rezai also did not hesitate to make open threates to western countries, saying: "If the United States and Europe resign from diplomacy and enter into an encounter, they will face serious trouble."

The regime-run newspaper, JAVAWN, published by the revolutionary guards, in it’s Monday, October 8th issue’s “political notes” section made more open threats againt U.S. interests in the region and the world and wrote: "Our officials’ warnings are serious. Should the U.S. and it’s allies chose confrontation with the Islamic Republic, not a single border restriction will be observed and Americans and their interests as well it’s allies around the world will be stormed."

* Basij forces are auxiliary mobilization forces created by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini; they are extremely radical and supported by the current supreme leader Ali Khamenei.