Iran Holds Second Military Exercise Amid Regional Tensions

The political and security deputy governor of Astara announced the commencement of a military exercise in the Caspian Sea coastal waters, urging residents not to worry about the sounds of explosions. Hamid Mousavi stated on Tuesday, August 23, that during the evening and night hours, sounds from a defensive exercise conducted by one of the military forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran will be heard in the vicinity of the Navy base in Astara. He mentioned that the exercise would take place from 19:30 to 20:30 in part of the Astara maritime area. Mousavi did not clarify whether this exercise is being conducted by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) or the Army, nor if it is related to the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, the leader of Hamas's political bureau in Tehran, and the threats from the Islamic Republic against Israel. However, he stated that this exercise is aimed at enhancing the readiness of the naval and military defensive forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran, and hypothetical targets will be attacked during the exercise. Astara shares a border with Azerbaijan, and military forces from both countries conducted a joint military exercise both at sea and on land in mid-March of last year. In response to quotes attributed to Masoud Pezeshkian, the President of Iran, regarding the potential targeting of Israeli interests in neighboring countries, including Azerbaijan, a source from Azerbaijan's government demanded an immediate explanation from Iran. The Telegraph reported that the IRGC is emphasizing a direct attack on Israel, while Pezeshkian believes that one of the retaliatory options for Haniyeh's assassination could involve targeting Israeli-related centers in neighboring countries like Iraqi Kurdistan and Azerbaijan. So far, Iran has not responded to this news. Murad Babakhani, the political and social deputy governor of Qasr-e Shirin in Kermanshah, previously announced that the IRGC would conduct a five-day military exercise in the region to enhance the combat readiness of the armed forces, which will continue until Tuesday of this week. These exercises are taking place amid the Islamic Republic's insistence on retaliatory action against Israel following Haniyeh's assassination in Tehran. Axios reported on August 21, citing two informed sources, that according to the latest assessments from Israeli intelligence agencies, Iran has decided to launch a direct attack on Israel. Ali Bagheri Kani, the head of Iran's Foreign Ministry, also rejected the request from France, Germany, and Britain for restraint against Israel, declaring that action against Israel is certain. He described the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran as a violation of Iran's national security and territorial integrity, asserting that it is Iran's 'legitimate and legal right' to take 'retaliatory action' against Israel. The Islamic Republic of Iran has attributed Haniyeh's assassination, which occurred on August 1 after he attended the inauguration of the new president in his special residence in northern Tehran, to Israel, with Ali Khamenei promising 'vengeance.' The European Union and the United States classify the extremist group Hamas as a terrorist organization.