Iranian state media say the country has successfully test-fired a newly upgraded missile system near the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic passageway in the Persian Gulf.
Iranian officials say the Iranian-made air-defense system known as Raad, or Thunder, has
the capability to fire missiles with a range of 50 kilometers, hitting targets at 22,000 meters.
Admiral Amir Rastgari, a navy spokesman, said underwater and surface-to-surface rockets were also successfully tested. The five-day drill, held annually in Iran, will end on January 2.
Iranian officials have threatened to block the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial waterway for global oil exports, in case of an attack on Iran.
Tehran has recently increased military exercises as international tensions grow over its disputed nuclear program.
Source: RFERL