94Ha Viewpoint
Iran’s military conducted military exercises at three nuclear facilities, carrying out offensive and defensive tasks, as Iran’s nuclear program comes under close scrutiny.
Iran’s military and its ideological wing, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, began military exercises last week that are expected to last until mid-March.
Last Tuesday (January 7), the Revolutionary Guard announced that the exercises would focus on the Natanz nuclear enrichment plant in central Iran. On Sunday (12th), state television reported that exercises were also taking place at Fordow in the center and Khondab in the west.
Units participating in the exercises include missile and radar units, electronic warfare units, and electronic intelligence and reconnaissance commands, the report said.
U.S. President-elect Trump is about to return to the White House. During Trump’s first presidency, the United States withdrew from the 2015 nuclear deal with Tehran and killed a Revolutionary Guard general in a drone strike in Iraq.
Iran is scheduled to hold nuclear talks with France, Britain and Germany in Switzerland on January 13.
Axios, a U.S. news website, reported earlier this month that White House National Security Adviser Sullivan has presented President Biden with options for possible strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities if Tehran develops nuclear weapons before Trump takes office on January 20.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Bakai criticized the reports, saying the threats against Iran’s nuclear facilities were a serious violation of international law.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) says Iran has increased its production of enriched uranium in recent years and is the only non-nuclear weapon state with uranium enriched to 60%. This level is close to the 90% required to make an atomic bomb.
