"Hamiane Velayat"

Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Ground Forces wrapped up the "Hamiane Velayat" ( supporters of Velayat) military drills in southern Iran, the local satellite Press TV reported on Monday, February 6, 2012. Commander of IRGC Ground Forces Brigadier General Mohammad Pakpour said all elements of a tactical commando raid and aerial combat were "successfully" practiced during the ground military drills that started on Saturday, said the report.

He said the IRGC forces exercised the aerial transportation of military equipment as well as overnight raids during the military maneuvers.


The drills were intended to convey a message of peace and friendship to the countries in the Middle East, while advising Iran's enemies to observe prudence in their behavior towards the Islamic Republic, he added.


On Sunday, a senior commander of IRGC said that Iran will attack any location where attacks against Iran are initiated.

IRGC's deputy head Hossein Salami said that "any location which is used by the enemy for raids against the Islamic Republic will be targeted by the IRGC forces."


Iran has said that its exercises in the southern waters and the nearby areas are aimed at maintaining readiness to confront threats in the Persian Gulf, the Sea of Oman and the Strait of Hormuz, an important passage for oil tankers. Tehran has also threatened to close the strait if it cannot sell its oil in the face of Western sanctions against the Islamic Republic.

On Saturday, Iran's Foreign Minister Ali-Akbar Salehi said that Tehran is preparing itself to counter all Western plans aimed at mounting pressure on the Islamic Republic. "Tehran is examining even the worst-case scenarios and preparing itself to counteract them," Salehi was quoted as saying.