Iran’s Ground Force to Test-Fire Long-Range Weapons, Smart Anti-Armor Missiles

Lieutenant Commander of the Iranian Ground Force Brigadier General Kioumars Heidari announced plans to test-fire new long-range weapons and smart anti-armor missiles in the upcoming military exercises late December.
“All the new weapons and equipment supplied to the (Ground) forces since the previous drills will be tested in the (upcoming) exercises,” Heidari told reporters in Tehran on Sunday.

“These weapons are from the class of weapons used against enemy’s air operations, enemy drills and equipment, and new long-range weapons,” he added.

“Also, new anti-armor rockets and missiles as well as smart anti-armor missiles will be tested in the drills,” Heidari concluded.

Earlier this month, Iranian Ground Force Commander Lieutenant General Ahmad Reza Pourdastan also announced that his forces were due to stage massive wargames, codenamed Prophet Mohammad (PBUH), in late December or Early January in the Southeastern parts of the country.

“We will practice two tactics of asymmetric war, war with new threats and proxy wars,” the Iranian commander said.

“Iran would also use suicide, surveillance and imaging drones in the military drill,” Pourdastan further added.

The Iranian commander noted that the maneuvers could increase capability and potentials of the Iranian ground force.

Pourdastan further noted that the Army’s Ground Force was watching bases and forces in neighboring countries, and would use its potentials in case their activities divert from normal course.

Tehran has repeatedly stated that its military might poses no threat to other countries, reiterating that its defense doctrine is based on deterrence.

Defense analysts and military observers say that Iran’s wargames and its advancements in weapons production have proved as a deterrent factor, specially at a time of heightened threats by the US and Israel.

Yet, Iranian officials have always stressed that the country’s military and arms programs serve defensive purposes and should not be perceived as a threat to any other country.