Iran tests ballistic and anti-ship missiles

Iran's military has conducted a successful test firing of indigenously developed missiles and torpedoes during large-scale exercises in the Gulf and the Sea of Oman between 31 march and 6 April 2006. The maneuvers namely, 'Great Prophet' were highly publicized by Tehran, and were clearly intended as a show of force focused on the cokepoint Strait of Hormuz, the Gulf's only gateway and a vital oil supply route. The test firings began on 31 march with a system capable of hitting a different targets at the same time and which can hide from radars and evade anti-missile defenses. There have been persistent reports that Russia may be planning to provide Iran with the most advanced version of the S-300SP long-range surface to air missile (SAM) system. Russia has already agreed to sell Iran 29 Tor-MK1 short range self propelled missile systems under a USD 700 million contract announced by Moscow in Dcember 2005.