Iran is expanding its military show of strength by holding ground exercises near the Afghanistan border. The naval exercises in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz will be extended and now it seems that the European Union’s oil sanctions against Iran will be postponed.
Iran’s four million man military is augmented by Russian Air Defense Systems:
Additionally, Iran’s armed forces are strengthened by the presence of at least 29 Russian Air Defense Systems and possibly a contingent of Russian troops. The presence of Russian troops in Iran would be likely since Russia has held joint military exercises with Iran and signed a mutual defense agreement with the Persian country. Coincidentally, this is eerily similar to the defense treaty signed between Russia and China.
No one is discussing the reciprocity of defense treaties with Iran and its allies. We must not forget that World War I was started by the assassination of Serbian Archduke Ferdinand. The players (and their pawns) are lining up and our commander-in-chief’s qualifications as a community organizer have now put our nation’s security in jeopardy.
David DeGerolamo
Iran holds military exercise near Afghan border
Iran launched a military manoeuvre near its border with Afghanistan on Saturday, the semi-official Fars news agency reported, days after naval exercises in the Gulf increased tensions with the West and pushed up oil prices.
Mohammad Pakpour, commander of the Revolutionary Guards’ ground forces, said the “Martyrs of Unity” exercises near Khvat, 60 km (40 miles) from Afghanistan, were “aimed at boosting security along the Iranian borders,” Fars reported.
The Revolutionary Guards’ naval forces’ 10-day exercise in the Gulf that ended last Monday worsened relations with Washington days after U.S. President Barack Obama approved sanctions that aim to stop countries buying Iranian oil.
Threats that Iran could close the Strait of Hormuz, which leads out of the Gulf and provides the outlet for most oil from the Middle East, pushed up oil prices and Iran warned Washington not to send an aircraft carrier back into the Gulf.