Air Defense Drill by IRGC and Army Concurrent with Return of Sanctions

As U.S. sanctions begin, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the Army conducted a joint "Valayat Air Defense Exercise" on Tuesday in northern, central, and western Iran, executing operations with their air defense systems. According to Iranian news agencies, the drill included "defensive operations in an electronic warfare environment" and "countering radar-evading missiles and cruise missiles." Reports indicate that during this exercise, the "Soom Khordad" missile system, unveiled in May 2014, "destroyed a drone." According to Iranian military officials, this system "can track four targets and simultaneously fire eight missiles, capable of destroying targets at distances of about 50 kilometers." The artillery air defense system "Seraj" also "hit drones" during the exercise. This system is a 35mm cannon that has been "optimized". Meanwhile, the Tasnim news agency reported the use of the "Talash missile system," which it claims is "one of Iran's newest air defense systems" and "can hit targets at medium and high altitudes." According to the report, this missile system successfully hit three aerial targets by firing three "Sayad" missiles. Amir Ali Hajizadeh, commander of the IRGC Aerospace Force, claimed that the air defense systems used in this drill are "completely Iranian." However, military experts have previously dismissed such claims made about similar systems. Following the U.S. withdrawal from the JCPOA, the IRGC has conducted exercises, particularly in the Persian Gulf. Iranian officials have repeatedly threatened that if Iran cannot export its oil, other countries will also not be able to export theirs, a threat interpreted as a potential intention by Iran to close the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most vital oil passageways. Following these threats, Admiral John Richardson, the operational commander of the U.S. Navy, warned Iran that the United States would maintain freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz by any means necessary. Despite the escalation of verbal conflict between Iranian and U.S. officials, several members of the Islamic Republic have ruled out the possibility of military confrontation. With the U.S. exit from the nuclear agreement and the imposition of the first round of sanctions, the second and most severe round of U.S. sanctions, including oil sanctions, began on Tuesday. U.S. Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin stated that under the reinstatement of sanctions, over 700 individuals or entities, including several banks, airlines, and shipping lines, have been targeted by sanctions.