The armed forces of Armenia and Iran on Wednesday began joint military exercises, which according to the two countries’ officials will last until Thursday.
Armenia’s Defense Ministry, in a statement, explained that Armenian forces will conduct their exercises on the territory of Armenia, while the Iranian forces will do same on their territory.
“The exercise involves operations to neutralize attacks by simulated terrorist groups on border checkpoints located along the Armenia–Iran state border,” the defense ministry said.
An Iranian military official said the drills are aimed at promoting peace.
“The peace drills will be held for two days in the border region of Norduz. There is no threat to the border areas of the two countries, the Islamic Republic of Iran and Armenia. Accordingly, the name of these exercises is ‘Peace,’” the Deputy Commander of the Ground Forces of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Valiollah Mani, told the IRNA news agency.
He said that the main objective of the drills is to strengthen border security.
“The border areas of the two countries are of strategic importance, given the vulnerable position of the region. We hope that the peaceful military exercises will be held in accordance with the set objectives and on schedule,” Mani added.
