Military Exercise of the Army with the Presence of '12,000 Offensive Forces'

The Iranian army's military exercise with the presence of '12,000 offensive forces' from seven provinces began on Friday in 'Nasrabad' Isfahan and will continue until tomorrow. According to the IRNA news agency, Brigadier General Nozar Nemat, deputy commander of the army's ground forces, stated that in this exercise, 'rapid deployment' of units from seven provinces to the Nasrabad region of Isfahan has been carried out. Mr. Nemat mentioned that two armored divisions, four rapid reaction brigades, special forces, artillery groups, two communication and electronic warfare groups, and a drone group, supported by the firepower of the air force and helicopter units, 'arrived at the exercise area in the shortest possible time.' The 'Great Power Exercise 97' of the army's ground forces began on Friday morning and will be held for two days in the 'Nasrabad' region of Isfahan. The evaluation of the new changes in the structure of the army's ground forces has been announced as the purpose of this exercise. According to the Iranian army, more than '12,000 offensive forces with modern offensive tactics are executing their mission' in this exercise. Last year, Kiomars Heydari, commander of the Iranian army's ground forces, stated that this force is to be transformed into a 'mobile offensive' force through structural changes. Meanwhile, Sirous Amanollahi, commander of the 65th special forces brigade, said that this force, which is present for 'special missions' in this exercise, was deployed to the exercise area using parachuting operations by several C-130 aircraft and 'executed area security measures, destroying hypothetical enemy teams and capturing their leaders.' He also stated that alongside this brigade, the 25th rapid reaction brigade is present in the exercise area, which for the first time was deployed by Chinook and 214 helicopters. In January, the Iranian air force also held a maneuver in Isfahan. After the U.S. withdrawal from the JCPOA, the Revolutionary Guards and the army have conducted several exercises, especially in the Persian Gulf. Meanwhile, on Friday, December 30, coinciding with the arrival of the U.S. aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis in the Persian Gulf, the 'Prophet Muhammad 12' exercise was held, and the Revolutionary Guards 'launched a drone and fired several rockets in this area.' However, Amir Rastgari, head of the Marine Industries Organization of the Ministry of Defense, stated that the drone flight and rocket firing coinciding with the arrival of the U.S. carrier in the Persian Gulf 'had no relation to this carrier' but was related to the Revolutionary Guards' exercise. Islamic Republic officials have repeatedly threatened that if Iran cannot export its oil, other countries will also not be able to export their oil, a threat interpreted as Iran's potential intention to close the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most important oil passages. Following these threats, Admiral John Richardson, the operational commander of the U.S. Navy, warned Iran that the United States would maintain the freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz by force if necessary. Despite the escalation of verbal warfare between Iranian and U.S. officials, some Islamic Republic officials have ruled out the possibility of military conflict.