Tehran, Iran (AHN) - Iranian officials confirm that they have begun a four-day war exercise, most likely in support of Tehran's continued nuclear development and as a response to increased U.S. military presence in the Persian Gulf.

Artillery commander Majid Ayeneh tells state-run media that "Ground forces of Iran's elite revolutionary guards are completely ready to tackle any kind of foreign threats," while short-range missiles will be tested south of the capital.

At the same time, Iranian officials barred 38 U.N. nuclear inspectors from entering the country, in what some described as an initial step toward further limiting cooperation with the international community over the Islamic Republic's nuclear program.

The decision was taken following demands by hard-line elements in the government that Iran respond defiantly to last month's imposition by the U.N. Security Council of limited sanctions targeting Iran's nuclear program and those entities with connections to it.

Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki stressed in remarks to Iran's official IRNA news service that Tehran has not completely ended its cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency, and that the barring of the 38 inspectors, while excessive, was in line with existing protocols.

Iran has long stressed that it is only looking to develop peaceful nuclear power for domestic use. However, Iranian Revolutionary Guard chief Maj.-Gen. Yahya Rahim Safavi tells the Iranian Student News Agency (ISNA) that "should Iran be attacked at home, we will deal a victorious blow to our attacker and will defend our land," a statement which could be seen as an admission of a nuclear weapons program, if not the outright possession of a nuclear weapon.

All Headline News (AHN) Middle East Correspondent Ryan R. Jones contributed to this report.

 

Iran Holds Military Exercises, Missile Tests