Iran launched the “Eqtedar 1403” military drills on Saturday, conducted by the Iranian Army’s Air Defense Forces in collaboration with the Air Force.
According to Mehr News Agency, the exercises will take place in the western and northern regions of the country and will be overseen by the country’s integrated air defense command. They will involve various domestically produced air defense systems and simulate real combat conditions, including scenarios to counter aerial and missile threats as well as electronic warfare.
Earlier this week, on Tuesday, Iran initiated the first phase of the joint “Eqtedar” air defense maneuvers near the Natanz nuclear facility. Tasnim News Agency reported that this phase focused on comprehensive defensive operations conducted by air defense units from the IRGC Aerospace Forces around the Shahid Ahmadi Roshan nuclear site. The exercises simulated a complex environment with advanced aerial threats and challenging electronic warfare conditions to enhance Iran’s defensive capabilities against potential attacks.
Underground Missile Base
In a separate development, Iranian state television aired rare footage of IRGC Commander Hossein Salami visiting an underground missile base reportedly used in October to attack Israel. The broadcast described the base, located within mountainous terrain, as housing dozens of missiles. According to the report, it played a role in “Operation True Promise 2,” though the precise location of the facility was not disclosed.
In October, Israel announced it had carried out strikes on Iranian military sites in retaliation for an alleged Iranian attack. The missile base footage was aired shortly after a military parade in Tehran that showcased Iran’s military strength, including vehicles and heavy weaponry, and featured thousands of IRGC members.
These displays come ahead of the upcoming inauguration of US President-elect Donald Trump on January 20. On Friday, thousands of IRGC members participated in the “March to Jerusalem” rally in Tehran, which included a parade of military vehicles and heavy weapons aimed at demonstrating readiness to confront any threats against Iran.
The rally also featured Basij militia forces, a paramilitary unit under the IRGC, marching through the streets of the capital. Iranian-made missiles, drones, and other military equipment were exhibited during the event.
In a televised statement, General Hassanzadeh, IRGC Commander in Tehran, said: “One of the goals of this rally is to show support for the people of Gaza and Palestine.”
“We also seek to demonstrate that Basij forces are fully prepared to counter any threats from the enemies of the Islamic Revolution,” he added.
Iran, which does not recognize Israel as a state, has made supporting the Palestinian cause a cornerstone of its foreign policy since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
Separately, video footage released by the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), the political arm of the Iranian opposition group Mujahideen-e-Khalq (MEK), showed Keith Kellogg, President-elect Trump’s envoy to Ukraine, attending an NCRI event in Paris on Saturday. According to Reuters, Kellogg had postponed planned visits to European capitals earlier this month until after Trump’s inauguration.
Kellogg, who is expected to serve as Trump’s special envoy to Ukraine and Russia, has previously spoken at NCRI events, including one in November. His participation in the Paris event, even in a personal capacity, suggests the group is garnering attention from the incoming US administration.
Marco Rubio, Trump’s nominee for Secretary of State, has also attended NCRI events in the past. The NCRI has consistently called for the overthrow of Iran’s current regime, although it remains unclear how much support the group holds within Iran.
In her opening remarks at the event, NCRI President Maryam Rajavi stated that the regional balance of power had shifted against Iran’s leaders. She cited the ousting of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and the “severe blow” dealt to Hezbollah in its conflict with Israel as key turning points.
