Iran begins missile firing tests

Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) began on Monday a missile exercise codenamed Great Prophet 7, Press TV reported.

The three-day drill will test Iran’s newest surface-to-surface missile systems in the central Iranian province of Semnan.

An assortment of long, medium and short-range missiles will target “aggressor airbases” in the Semnan desert, Brigadier General Amir-Ali Hajizadeh, commander of Iran’s IRGC Aerospace Division, said.

Iran’s Defense Minister Ahmad Vahidi has announced progress in the development and manufacture of an indigenous version of the advanced Russian S-300 air defense missile system.

Iranian military officials said the missile system, called Bavar (Belief) 373, is even more powerful and more advanced than the Russian S-300.

The $800-million contract to supply Iran with the missile system was signed in late 2007. Russia was to deliver five S-300PMU-1 battalions to Tehran. However, on September 22, 2010, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev signed a decree terminating the contract in line with UN Security Council Resolution 1929, which bans supply to Iran of conventional weapons including missiles and missile systems, tanks, attack helicopters, warplanes and ships. <Cihan>

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