Missiles and brinkmanship: Iran hardens stance in nuclear standoff
With its missile drills and harsh rhetoric, Tehran is doubling down on deterrence to warn the United States and Israel against contemplating military action.
TEHRAN — Iran showcased its missile and naval power this week at a moment of heightened diplomatic tension with Western powers, underscoring both its readiness for conflict and its resistance to compromise in the long-stalled nuclear talks.
On Friday, the Iranian navy wrapped up its two-day Sustainable Power 1404 drills in the northern Indian Ocean and the Sea of Oman. The exercise, according to Tasnim News Agency, featured a new generation of domestically produced cruise missiles.
The navy test-fired precision-guided projectiles and launched submarines, drones and coastal batteries, while electronic warfare systems simulated combat against technologically advanced adversaries.
The highlight came during the main phase, when three types of anti-ship cruise missiles — the medium-range Qader, the long-range Qadir and the short-range Nasir — were fired from the Ganaveh missile-launching vessel and the Sabalan destroyer. All three struck their intended targets, according to state media.
