Iran Preparing For War? Tehran Successfully Tests Russian S-300 Missile System During Drills

Iran's military has reportedly conducted successful tests of Russian purchased S-300 anti-aircraft missile system. The news comes amid ongoing tensions between Tehran and Washington, and soon after President Donald Trump's pledge to get tough with Iran.

Tests on effectiveness of the missile system against ballistic threats were conducted by Iran in its drill dubbed Damvand. The drill was reportedly attended by a number of high-ranking military commanders and officials.

The S-300 system was evaluated through simulated electronic warfare conditions and tested for its detection, identification, interception and target shooting capabilities, the Tasnim news agency reported Saturday.

The deal for five Russian S-300 systems was struck in 2007 but was later suspended after the adoption of U.N. Security Council sanctions on Iran in mid-2010. Tehran eventually reached an international agreement in 2015 and vowed to limit its nuclear development program in exchange for the removal of crippling economic sanctions.

It was around this time, in April 2015, that Russia resumed talks with Iran on deliveries of the S-300, and in December 2016, Iran's ambassador in Moscow Mehdi Sanayee confirmed that Russia had executed the contract.

However, last month, after Iran conducted a ballistic missile test, Trump warned Tehran that it had been “put on notice.” In response, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said that Iran would not attack first, but would defend itself if provoked.

Iran made news again recently after the U.S. Office of Naval Intelligence said in a report that Iran is seeking to purchase weapons such as surface warships, submarines, and anti-ship missiles in 2020 after the expiration of a U.N. arms embargo.

It was also reported on Tuesday that Iran has been conducting a series of massive naval drills in nearby national and international waters since early February. The navy drills included a successful launch of a new advanced Torpedo.