Iran Conducts Military Drills Following Conflict with Israel

On August 21, 2025, Iran's Artesh Navy conducted its first military exercise since the 12-day conflict with Israel in June. The drills, held in the northern Indian Ocean and the Sea of Oman, involved various branches of the Iranian military, including the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the regular army. The exercise focused on testing new missile systems, air defense capabilities, and coordinated ground maneuvers.

During the exercise, Iran tested multiple anti-ship cruise missiles, including the Nasir, Ghadir, and Ghadeer. Additionally, the "Bavar-5" drone, capable of being launched from naval vessels, reportedly destroyed a target after traveling 400 kilometers. The drills also incorporated surface and subsurface vessels, aerial units, and electronic warfare units.

This military exercise comes in the aftermath of the June 2025 conflict between Iran and Israel. The conflict began on June 13, 2025, when Israel launched Operation Rising Lion, targeting Iran's nuclear facilities, including the main enrichment facility in Natanz, its nuclear scientists, and parts of its ballistic missile program. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described Iran's nuclear efforts as "a clear and present danger to Israel's very survival."

In response, Iran launched missile attacks on Israeli military sites and cities, including targeting the Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot, Israel, causing significant damage to the research facility. The conflict resulted in substantial casualties and infrastructure damage on both sides. A U.S.-brokered ceasefire was eventually reached, but tensions remained high.

The June 2025 war had profound social and political repercussions within Iran. The conflict intensified internal unrest and political instability, marked by government crackdowns, mass arrests, and economic decline. The Iranian leadership faced criticism for intelligence failures and economic mismanagement. In response to growing international isolation, the regime tightened domestic control through intensified repression, including a rise in executions.

Despite a surge in nationalist sentiment during the conflict, many Iranians remained unconvinced that a hardline stance or confrontation with the West served their long-term interests. Reformist voices highlighted growing frustration with the regime's avoidance of meaningful change. Debates continued over whether to pursue moderate reforms or double down on hardline authoritarianism, particularly amid uncertainty about Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s succession.

The war had a significant economic impact on Iran. Tanker traffic from Iran’s main export port virtually halted during the conflict, resulting in tens of millions of dollars in lost revenue. Israeli strikes targeted military and nuclear sites, research facilities, and government buildings, causing extensive damage. The physical damage required major reconstruction, with conservative estimates putting the immediate rebuilding cost in the tens of billions of dollars.

Following the conflict, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei declared that the ongoing conflict with the United States was “unsolvable,” reaffirming that Iran would not succumb to U.S. pressure concerning its nuclear program. Despite this, Iran and European powers agreed to resume talks aimed at limiting Tehran’s uranium enrichment activities. However, no agreement has been reached on fully resuming inspections or broader cooperation with the UN nuclear watchdog.

The recent military exercise serves as a demonstration of Iran's military readiness and a response to the recent conflict with Israel. It underscores Iran's intent to project strength amid ongoing regional tensions and internal challenges.