An explosion is seen on the surface of the water behind a member of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) during a joint military exercise called “The Great Prophet 17” in southwest Iran, on this photo obtained on December 22, 2021. IRGC / WANA (West Asia News Agency) / Document via REUTERS

December 24 (Reuters) – This week’s Iranian Gulf War Games were intended to send a warning to Israel, the country’s top military commanders said on Friday, amid concerns over possible Israeli plans to target Iranian nuclear sites.

The Revolutionary Guard’s War Games, which included firing ballistic and cruise missiles, ended on Friday.

“These exercises had a very clear message: a serious, real warning (…) to threats from the authorities of the Zionist regime to beware of their mistakes,” Guards chief general Hossein Salami told state television .

“We will cut off their hands if they make a wrong move … The distance between actual operations and military exercises is just a change in missile launch angles,” Salami added.

The Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces, Major General Mohammad Bagheri, said 16 ballistic missiles of different classes were fired simultaneously and destroyed predetermined targets.

Iran says its ballistic missiles have a range of 2,000 km (1,200 miles) and are capable of reaching Israeli and US bases in the region.

Israel, which opposes efforts by world powers to revive Tehran’s nuclear deal in 2015, has long threatened military action if diplomacy fails. Iran says its nuclear ambitions are peaceful.

Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz has called on world powers not to let Iran buy time in nuclear negotiations, which have been suspended at Iran’s request and which are expected to resume next Monday. Read more

Israel is widely regarded as the only country in the Middle East with a nuclear arsenal.

[email protected] Edited by Gareth Jones

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