Iran simulates attacks on regional bases

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TEHRAN, July 2 (UPI) -- Iranian military forces, during missile exercises in the central province of Semnan, will practice on targets similar to transregional forces, a commander said.

Iran announced the start of a missile exercise dubbed The Great Prophet 7 in central Semnan province. The three-day exercise is aimed at testing surface-to-surface missiles at targets that are "simulations of the transregional forces' airbases," Iranian Brig. Gen. Amir-Ali Hajizadeh was quoted by Iran's Press TV as saying.

Iran in February announced that commando teams and aerial combat squads successfully defended against "the hypothetical enemies' armored and mechanized columns."

The latest maneuvers coincided with dual U.S. and EU sanctions targeting Iran's energy sector. The sanctions were meant as punishment for a controversial nuclear program, which Tehran maintains is for peaceful purposes.

Washington and its allies had said all options are on the table to prevent Iran from becoming a nuclear-weapons state.

The International Atomic Energy Agency had said there may be certain military aspects to parts of Iran's nuclear program.

A series of multilateral negotiations with Iran ended inconclusively last month with talks in Moscow.