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"Neither Iran nor Lebanese Hezbollah is at all likely to pursue such a course of action [a full-scale attack on Israel]."

"The fighting will remain contained between Israel and Iran, and will not persist for more than a few weeks."

"Iran is unlikely to launch an all-out confrontation with Israel over Haniyeh's assassination."

"An all-out war between Israel and Iran is not inevitable, but it remains a serious risk."

"Israel & US manufactured a fake crisis with Iran that could lead to all-out war."

"There will be an all-out war between Israel and Iran and Iran will successfully disrupt flows through Strait of Hormuz."

"This [a wider Israeli war with Iran] is now more likely."

"[T]he Middle East is an inch away from an all-out war between Israel and Iran."

Will There Be a Full-Scale Israel-Iran War?

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps is hosting a five-day counter-terrorism exercise codenamed Sahand 2025 in East Azerbaijan province from December 1 to December 5, with participation from Shanghai Cooperation Organization member states including Belarus, China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, while Saudi Arabia, Azerbaijan, Oman and Iraq are attending as guest observers.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps is hosting a five-day counter-terrorism exercise codenamed Sahand 2025 in East Azerbaijan province from December 1 to December 5, with participation from Shanghai Cooperation Organization member states including Belarus, China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, while Saudi Arabia, Azerbaijan, Oman and Iraq are attending as guest observers.

The exercise is being conducted at the Imam Zaman Mechanized Brigade base in Shabestar County and was designed under directives from the General Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Executive Committee of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure.

The exercise is being conducted at the Imam Zaman Mechanized Brigade base in Shabestar County and was designed under directives from the General Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Executive Committee of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure.

Brigadier General Vali Madani stated that the exercise includes 20 heads of high-ranking military delegations, 60 chiefs of staff and 40 operational forces commanders, with the main operational phase scheduled for December 4 using live ammunition across all five stages of the drill.

Brigadier General Vali Madani stated that the exercise includes 20 heads of high-ranking military delegations, 60 chiefs of staff and 40 operational forces commanders, with the main operational phase scheduled for December 4 using live ammunition across all five stages of the drill.

Iranian officials emphasized that more than 17,000 Iranian citizens, including women and children, have been killed in terrorist attacks over the past years, highlighting the country's long-standing record in combating terrorism and the strategic importance of the exercise.

Iranian officials emphasized that more than 17,000 Iranian citizens, including women and children, have been killed in terrorist attacks over the past years, highlighting the country's long-standing record in combating terrorism and the strategic importance of the exercise.

Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf stated that the exercise sends an important message to dominating powers, showing serious will among independent countries to defend themselves against unjust global practices, while Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi described it as coalition-building for regional security.

Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf stated that the exercise sends an important message to dominating powers, showing serious will among independent countries to defend themselves against unjust global practices, while Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi described it as coalition-building for regional security.

The Sahand 2025 exercise follows the Shanghai Cooperation Organization's first joint counter-terrorism drill, Interaction 2024, which was held in Xinjiang, China in July 2024, and represents Iran's participation as a full SCO member since its accession in 2023.

The Sahand 2025 exercise follows the Shanghai Cooperation Organization's first joint counter-terrorism drill, Interaction 2024, which was held in Xinjiang, China in July 2024, and represents Iran's participation as a full SCO member since its accession in 2023.

Iran Hosts SCO Counter-Terrorism Drill With 9 Nations

Sahand-2025: Iran hostsHosts joint SCO antiCounter-terrorTerrorism drillsDrill With 9 Nations

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