Iran's IRGC begins military drill in eastern country

TEHRAN, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- A senior military commander said Saturday that Iran's elite Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) has started military drills codenamed "Shohaday-e Vahdat (Martyrs of Unity)" in eastern Iran, the local satellite Press TV reported.

Commander of IRGC Ground Forces Brigadier General Mohammad Pakpour said the first phase of the exercise started on Saturday in the vicinity of Khaf city in Iran's Khorasan province, adding that the main phase of the maneuvers will kick off on Monday, according to Press TV.

Bolstering security along Iran's border areas and strengthening the combat readiness of the IRGC Ground Forces are the main goals of the drills, Pakpour was quoted as saying.

"Practicing tactical strategies of the ground forces in various combat sections of asymmetrical warfare is another goal of the drills," he added.

Pakpour said the IRGC would use some of its tactical capabilities and innovations during the drills.

Noting that the exercise also aims to increase the readiness of IRGC forces under extreme climatic conditions, the commander said, "Shohaday-e Vahdat maneuvers are taking place in Khaf where the temperature drops 15-21 degrees below zero."

On Friday, local media reported, quoting an IRGC Navy Commander, that Iran's elite Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Navy plans to hold a large-scale military maneuver in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz in February,

The upcoming maneuver, titled Great Prophet-7, is one of a series of drills dubbed Great Prophet, and will be different compared to previous exercises held by the IRGC, Rear Admiral Ali Fadavi said late Thursday.

Fadavi stated the strategic Strait of Hormuz is completely under Iran's control, and all activities in the waterway are monitored by the Islamic republic.

The Strait of Hormuz, connecting the Persian Gulf with the Sea of Oman, is one of the world's most critical oil routes. Any incidents here may cause global oil market to fluctuate. On Tuesday, Iran's navy ended its 10-day naval drill, dubbed " Velayat 90", in the Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz and the Sea of Oman which began on Dec. 24 amid increasing tensions between Iran and the West over a string of issues, including Iran's alleged role in a plot to assassinate the Saudi Arabian ambassador to Washington, attacks on the British embassy in Tehran, the latest International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) report on the Iranian nuclear program, and disputes over a U.S. drone captured by Iran.

French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe said Wednesday that the European Union could decide on an oil embargo against Iran at a foreign ministers' meeting on Jan. 30.

During the "Velayat 90" exercise, Iran threatened to seal off the Strait of Hormuz if its oil exports are sanctioned.

On Dec. 28, the Pentagon warned Iran against any attempt to block the Strait of Hormuz, saying interference with the transit or passage of vessels through the waterway will not be tolerated.

Deputy Commander of Iran's IRGC Brigadier General Hossein Salami last week dismissed the U.S. warnings over Iranian threats to close Strait of Hormuz, adding Tehran does not seek Washington' s permission to implement its defense strategies in the Persian Gulf.

Iran's foreign ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said Wednesday the Persian Gulf region is highly important for global energy supply, and that Iran is not after creating tension. "But if the atmosphere changes into a war spirit and the situation in the region changes, all the decisions (of Iranians) would be made on the basis of new condition," Ramin Mehmanparast told Xinhua.

On the potential upcoming sanctions by the EU members on Iran's oil exports, the spokesman said that Iran's oil and its share in the supply of global crude market cannot be replaced.

The global energy market cannot easily disregard a country which has the second gas reserves and the fourth oil resources in the world, the Iranian spokesman said.