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Summary Iran's Revolutionary Guard says it has begun a two-day land military exercise.
The Guard says the exercise will upgrade capabilities to defend the country against possible external threats.Commander of the Guards ground forces Mohammad Pakpour said on comments posted on the forces website sepahnews.com that the maneuvers dubbed Valfajr, or Dawn, began Sunday outside the city of Yazd in central Iran.The Guard is Irans most powerful military unit.The exercises are the latest in a series of maneuvers held amid escalating tensions between Iran and the West over Irans nuclear program.The U.S. and Israel have not ruled out military strikes against Irans program, which they say aims at developing weapons technology. Iran says the program is for peaceful purposes.--AP
