Iran Holds Military Exercise Near Afghan Border

[Purveyor]

TEHRAN | Sat Jan 7, 2012 8:52am EST

(Reuters) - Iran launched a military maneuver 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.

MORE...

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/01/07/us-iran-idUSTRE8041RA20120107

[justiceischeap]

1. Sounds to me like they're preparing for war. nt

[Warren Stupidity]

2. Just about every nation prepares for war.

They train, conduct military exercises, prepare for military emergencies, plan for worst case scenarios. It is what nations do.

[justiceischeap]

6. Yes and they happen to be blocking the Straight of Who's Your Mom

and now lining up along the Afghan border... we DO still have troops in Afghanistan, don't we?

[Warren Stupidity]

7. You are seriously proposing that Iran represents a military threat?

[justiceischeap]

8. I am seriously proposing they are acting as though they are readying for war

with the US. Does that mean I think they're a threat? No but they seem to have some hubris when it comes to their ability to take on the US. It may be mere saber rattling but it seems THEY think they can be some sort of threat.

[Warren Stupidity]

9. They are preparing for war because we and our allies keep threatening to attack them.

They have no serious offensive capabilities.

[xchrom]

3. Du rec. Nt

[Earthbound Misfit]

4. Iran is feeling the squeeze...

Iran's currency has devalued about 45% in the past 2 weeks. Military maneuvers help boost the price of oil which helps offset their loss of oil revenue from sanctions.

[Muskypundit]

5. "America has war on Iranian border"

Just saying.