Iran has included Russian-made long-range air defense systems in military exercises following Israeli strikes last October that Israel says have seriously weakened Tehran's defense capabilities, Reuters reports.
The exercises took place a day after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with US President Donald Trump to discuss regional issues, including Iran's nuclear program.
Both leaders have said Iran cannot be allowed to develop nuclear weapons, and Trump earlier announced the resumption of his "maximum pressure" campaign. on Iran with the aim of reducing oil exports to zero to stop it from acquiring nuclear weapons.
On October 26, Israeli warplanes struck missile factories and other sites near Tehran and in western Iran. The attack followed an Iranian attack on Israel on October 1 with about 200 ballistic missiles.
Iranian state television reported today that in a simultaneous operation, Iran's Bavar-373 long-range air defense system and Russia's S-300 system shot down a hypothetical hostile target by firing missiles.
"Some enemy officials and media outlets after the malicious attack in October claimed that they had rendered Iran's long-range air defense systems inoperable," the television said.
Then-Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Galant said in October that the Israeli strikes had weakened Iran's offensive and defensive capabilities, leaving it at a severe disadvantage in the event of future actions.