{"id":29721,"date":"2021-12-20T18:58:44","date_gmt":"2021-12-20T18:58:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2021\/12\/20\/irans-revolutionary-guard-holds-military-drill-amid-tension\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T22:24:59","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T22:24:59","slug":"irans-revolutionary-guard-holds-military-drill-amid-tension","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/global\/2021\/12\/20\/irans-revolutionary-guard-holds-military-drill-amid-tension\/","title":{"rendered":"Iran\u2019s Revolutionary Guard holds military drill amid tension"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

TEHRAN, Iran \u2014 Iran\u2019s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard<\/a> staged a major military exercise across the country\u2019s south on Monday amid heightened tensions over Tehran\u2019s nuclear program, state TV reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Guard\u2019s aerospace division, ground troops and naval forces joined in the five-day drill, the report said, with maritime forces set to maneuver in the strategic Strait of Hormuz, the narrow gateway for 20 percent of the world\u2019s traded oil.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The exercise comes days after talks to revive Tehran\u2019s tattered nuclear deal with world powers broke up in Vienna<\/a>. Iran has accelerated its nuclear advances as negotiations to return to the accord struggle to make headway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When asked by a reporter during a press briefing whether Iran would consider enriching uranium to weapons-grade 90 percent purity, the foreign ministry spokesman gave a vague response.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe level, amount and quality of enrichment are in line with the needs of Iran\u2019s peaceful nuclear program,\u201d Saeed Khatibzadeh said. \u201cAll these measures have been taken with the knowledge of the International Atomic Energy Agency and will continue to be so in the future.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\t