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Last update - 20:44 23/11/2008
Fearing attack, Iran militia holds massive defense drill
By Reuters
Tags: Mahmoud Ahmadinejad 

An Iranian militia held civil defense drills on Sunday to prepare for any air strikes and the military said it could close a waterway crucial for world oil supplies if Iran was attacked.

The exercises organized by student members of the Basij militia were held at hundreds of schools across the country and involved transporting wounded people and putting out fires after a fictitious bombardment by enemy planes.

The United States and Israel have hinted they could take military action if Iran presses ahead with a nuclear program they believe is aimed at making atomic bombs.
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Iran, which says the program is for peaceful purposes, says it will retaliate for any strikes against it.

State television showed pictures of ambulances with sirens wailing rushing to the scene of a simulated attack and people lying on the ground with bloodied faces.

Officials also reiterated that Iran was ready to close down the Strait of Hormuz, a sea route at the mouth of the Gulf through which 40 percent of the world's traded oil passes, if the United States attacked.

Navy Commander Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayari said foreign forces in the region were being closely watched and Iran would not allow any foreign ship to enter its waters.

"We are capable of closing the Strait of Hormuz," he told told IRNA news agency.

Rasoul Sanairad, a senior Basij political officer, said the strait provided "an exceptional opportunity" for defending the nation, according to Fars News Agency.

Military experts say Iran's armed forces cannot match U.S. military technology but could still cause havoc on shipping routes, particularly using small craft for hit-and-run attacks.

Iran's navy will hold exercises in December involving missile-equipped battleships and scuba-diving special forces, state radio said.

The Basijis are a paramilitary force estimated to have 12 million members who uphold Islamic revolutionary values. In the 1980s war with Iraq, they provided much of the manpower for the front. In peacetime, they help enforce Iran's strict Islamic dress and other moral codes.

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      1.   How Strange! David and Goliath once again 16:42  |  Dagma 23/11/08
      2.   #1 you are right,but.... 16:50  |  Siad 23/11/08
      3.   "We are capable of closing the Strait of Hormuz," 17:09  |  Murray of Montreal 23/11/08
      4.   They know the moment of truth is approaching 18:52  |  Orkochav 23/11/08
      5.   Iran trains for retal, even though it knows Isr is too coward to 19:50  |  Aounist 23/11/08
      6.   #3 and Yes,They are capable. 20:56  |  Siad 23/11/08
      7.   Iran is just trying to drive the price of oil up 21:20  |  Milton 23/11/08
      8.   To Siad "Funny Man" 22:35  |  Oleg 23/11/08
      9.   What if Pakistan helps Iran ? 00:22  |  Albert 24/11/08
      10.   Why oh why.... 00:59  |  ramin 24/11/08
      11.   stop complaining 01:03  |  demos 24/11/08
      12.   The Guardian of Israel 01:20  |  Mina 24/11/08
      13.   Hormuz closure self-defeating 01:37  |  Morris Valentine 24/11/08
      14.   Iran reads the Israeli press too. 02:39  |  Neutered Observer 24/11/08
      15.   The Paper Tiger Rears It`s Ugly Head 03:10  |  Baruch Gold 24/11/08
      16.   #3 Murray 03:20  |  schafe82 24/11/08
      17.   # 8 Morris Valentine .... choppy waters 03:53  |  allang 24/11/08
      18.   Murray, what makes you think the straits 04:39  |  spyguy 24/11/08
      19.   Murray - the cakewalk 04:43  |  Mark Lincoln 24/11/08
      20.   Those who see a cakewalk 04:49  |  Mark Lincoln 24/11/08
      21.   MV While Iran would suffer, the US woudl 04:51  |  spyguy 24/11/08
      22.   Oleg, are you threatening to nuke Iran? 04:59  |  spyguy 24/11/08
      23.   Stupid occupiers! 05:15  |  Niva dos Santos 24/11/08
      24.   Iran WILL DEFEND ITSELF! 06:07  |  Grisham 24/11/08
      25.   To spyguy (#11) 07:47  |  Morris Valentine 24/11/08
      26.   #20, MV 09:43  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 24/11/08
      27.   MV - leveling Iran would NOT open the straits 11:46  |  spyguy 24/11/08
      28.   CJK - there is defeat and there is defeat 11:57  |  spyguy 24/11/08
      29.   CJK - BTW - can you be sure 12:00  |  spyguy 24/11/08
      30.   #25 Remind me again, Morris 14:33  |  Johnboy 24/11/08
      31.   #9 Not a chance, Albert 14:40  |  Johnboy 24/11/08
      32.   # 25 morris 18:07  |  Axel 24/11/08
      33.   # 25 morris military expert 18:12  |  Axel 24/11/08
      34.   #22 Oleg Israel is God`s land. 19:42  |  Peter 24/11/08
      35.   #9 Pakistan Will Never Supply Nukes to Iran 23:16  |  Josh 24/11/08
      36.   To Johnboy (#30), spyguy (#27) 06:13  |  Morris Valentine 25/11/08
      37.   To Axel (#33) 06:22  |  Morris Valentine 25/11/08
      38.   #36 I must have misunderstood you, Morris 07:08  |  Johnboy 25/11/08
      39.   Morris Valentine 07:22  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 25/11/08
      40.   #39, JB 07:42  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 25/11/08
      41.   Apocolipse & The Rapture, Obama`s Mistaken! 10:48  |  Mina 25/11/08
      42.   To JB (#38): You misunderestimated me 07:55  |  Morris Valentine 26/11/08
      43.   To CJK (#39) 08:08  |  Morris Valentine 26/11/08
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