Iran military parade: Show of military strength in face of regional tension
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TEHRAN: (APP) Iran showed off missiles, warplanes, tanks and marching troops on Wednesday in a display of military strength in the face of growing regional tensions.
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The Islamic republic used the 36th anniversary of the start of the Iran-Iraq war to parade arms including 16 ballistic missiles through Tehran.
A new missile with multiple warheads, called Zolfaghar, was also on show with a threat directed at Iran's arch-rival Israel written on the side of the truck transporting it.
"If the leaders of the Zionist regime make one false move, the Islamic republic will destroy Tel Aviv and Haifa," it said, referring to two Israeli cities.
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According to the commander of the air wing of the elite Revolutionary
Guards, General Amir-Ali Hadjizadeh, the Zolfaghar has a range of 750
kilometres (466 miles).
S-300 missiles delivered by Moscow this year were also on show in the capital. Other military parades were held elsewhere in the country.
A large maritime display involving 500 fast patrol boats and warships took place in the Gulf, according to Iranian media.
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For the first time, Russian-made Sukhoi Su-22 fighter jets flew over the area of Bandar Abbas, a major port on the Gulf coast.
"The recent decision of the American criminals to give military aid to the usurper Zionist regime (Israel), reinforces our determination to increase our defence capabilities," said General Mohammad Bagheri, chief of staff of Iran's armed forces.
Tehran has advisers on the ground in Iraq and also in Syria to help the military in both countries battle armed groups fighting the national governments.
