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Israeli media reported that at some point an Iranian ship fired missiles "at a distance" from the American strike group. It is unclear how far from the US ships the alleged shots happened. Tehran's Navy didn't respond to these reports, and the Pentagon didn't comment on whether the Iranian ships had engaged in threatening activities that day. Washington's maneuvers are taking place simultaneously with Tehran's 'Great Prophet 12' naval drill. Described as 'massive' by Iranian media, the eight-day military exercise involves various ground and naval units operating in the Gulf and in southern Iran. The main phase of the wargame kicked off near Qeshm Island on Saturday, with troops practicing breaching an enemies' coastal defense. #Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (#IRGC) has launched a military drill in #PersianGulfpic.twitter.com/ejCSD470zO — Tasnim News Agency (@Tasnimnews_EN) 22 декабря 2018 г. Brigadier General Mohammad Pakpour, who leads the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps ground forces, called the drill "strategically defensive" in nature and said that Iran does not intend to intimidate other nations. We pose no threat to any country but if the enemies seek to implement their malicious intentions and attack us, we will be absolutely aggressive and attack the enemies with all might. Relations between Tehran and Washington rapidly deteriorated throughout the year after the Trump administration re-imposed sanctions on the Islamic Republic's energy and banking sector. US officials stated that the restrictions are aimed at curbing the nation's oil trade. In response, politicians in Tehran hinted that the country might resort to blocking all shipments through the strategically important Strait of Hormuz if Washington steps up its goal of eliminating Iranian oil exports. Last year, US Navy commanders accused Iranian ships of "aggressive" behavior in the Strait of Hormuz, saying that their maneuvers risked disrupting merchant traffic. Tehran rejected these allegations and claimed that the Americans would be "responsible for any unrest in the Persian Gulf." --- --- ...
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