Iran Military Drills: New Missile Tests Amid Threats to Israel

Iran has launched a large-scale military exercise dubbed “Eghtedar 1404” in the northern Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Oman, showcasing missile launches, electronic warfare simulations, and drone maneuvers. The two-day drill, announced Thursday, includes naval units, underground facilities, air forces, coastal and sea-based missile platforms, and advanced cyber operations.

According to the drill’s spokesman Abbas Hassani, Iran is deploying precision cruise missiles of short, medium, and long range with the declared aim of striking maritime targets. He claimed the maneuvers are designed to raise combat readiness, strengthen command-and-control capabilities, create deterrence, and “instill a sense of security and hope among the Iranian people.”

Escalating Threats Toward Israel and the U.S.

The exercise comes alongside a barrage of hostile rhetoric from Tehran against both Israel and the United States. On the eve of Iran’s “Defense Industries Day,” senior commanders vowed to expand deterrence capabilities and warned enemies not to “miscalculate.”

Iranian Defense Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh boasted: “The missiles used in the 12-Day War were manufactured years ago. Today, we possess far more advanced missiles. If the Zionist enemy embarks on another adventure, we will use these missiles.”

Similarly, a senior adviser to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, Yahya Rahim Safavi, threatened: “We are not in a ceasefire, we are in a state of war. This could collapse at any moment. There is no agreement with the Israelis or with the Americans.”

Israeli Perspective: Bluff or Real Threat?

While Iran showcases its drills for propaganda purposes, Israeli analysts caution against taking them at face value. Dr. Benny Sabati of Israel’s Institute for National Security Studies (INSS) stressed that Iran’s navy is far from being a serious threat: “They cannot face the Americans; they have no chance.” He suggested the exercise may be a response to an Israeli-attributed strike in Yemen, but added, “No one really knows what is happening on the ground.”

The Israeli Defense Forces have signaled vigilance. IDF Spokesperson Brig. Gen. Efi Defrin noted that alongside the ongoing war in Gaza, the military is closely monitoring Iranian activity across all fronts, including Lebanon, Syria, and Judea and Samaria. Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir emphasized that the campaign is “multi-front and long-term, with Iran as the main axis.”

This is a critical lesson Israel learned after October 7th, not to be lulled into complacency by our enemies, not to be convinced when they pretend to wish us peace and harmony, but to realize that they are constantly plotting and planning their next attack on us.

Empty Threats or Dangerous Escalation?

Despite Iran’s bluster, observers point out that ordinary Iranians remain largely indifferent to these displays, aware of their military’s limitations. Analysts argue the regime’s threats are more about deterring outside intervention than reflecting true capability. Sabati added: “The regime survives on threats. They know they are weak, but they need to project strength.”

Even more telling is the absence of Khamenei himself from the drills and defense industry showcases, an unusual departure from past tradition. “In the 1980s, Khomeini never hid,” Sabati remarked. “Now, the leader disappears. That says it all.”

Most importantly of all, while Iran faces an extremely concerning drought and an energy crisis, they are choosing to focus on this intense drill, rather than dealing with their growing internal crises.