TEHRAN (Iran News) – Ballistic missiles fired by the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) on the second day of its massive drills in central Iran managed to destroy targets located 1,800 kilometers away at the Indian Ocean.

The long-range ballistic missiles were launched on the second day of the Great Prophet 15 war games held in the central deserts of Iran and destroyed hypothetical warships north of the Indian Ocean.

Several missiles of various long-range classes, including Qadir, Sejjil, and Emad, were reportedly test-fired on Saturday.

The key point about the Saturday launches was that the Iranian military, for the first time, showcased its capability of destroying targets at very long ranges in a military drill. Previously, the missiles test-fired in the drills hit targets at a maximum range of 300 kilometers.

Major General Mohammad Baqeri, the Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, referred to the same point on the sidelines of the drills and said choosing targets at ranges beyond 1,800 kilometers south of the Sea of Oman and north of the Indian Ocean is a meaningful move.

“Choosing a barrage of long-range missiles against naval targets illustrates that if the enemies of the Islamic Republic have ill intentions against our national interests, maritime trade routes, and territory, they will come under missile strike and will be destroyed,” he stated.

Major General Baqeri further noted that the Great Prophet 15 drills and other major exercises, which have been held over the past 15 days and will continue for the next five days, indicate the Iranian Armed Force’s preparedness in all military spheres.

Iran is not seeking to launch any offense, he said, but emphasized that any hostile action against Iran will be met with a strong attack “with maximum power and in the shortest possible time.”

On Friday, during the first stage of the large-scale military exercise in the central desert of Iran, the IRGC units launched a barrage of surface-to-surface ballistic missiles, which were followed by operations by offensive bomber drones.

A mixed attack, involving a new generation of surface-to-surface ballistic missiles and drones, was carried out and all designated targets were destroyed with pinpoint accuracy.

Ballistic missiles of Zulfaghar, Zelzal, and Dezful classes were also fired at targets during Friday drills.

The missiles are reportedly equipped with detachable warheads and capable of being controlled outside the atmosphere.

Meanwhile, the commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) says among the objectives of the Iranian military is to be able to target warships with ballistic missiles.

“One of our important objectives in defense strategies is to be able to target hostile warships, including aircraft carriers and battlecruisers, with long-range ballistic missiles,” said Major General Hossein Salami on the second day of IRGC’s missile drills held in central Iran.

“It is customary to strike mobile targets at sea by using low-speed cruise missiles,” he added.

However, the top general noted, ballistic missiles can hit targets over long distances and can be fired from deep inside Iran.

“So, we can hit mobile targets in the ocean,” he said.

“This capability is a major defense achievement, which has been achieved at the IRGC’s Aerospace Division,” he said.