"The ground forces of the Revolutionary Guards, with 20 brigades, will participate in these manoevres using the most modern arms recently distributed to units," the agency quoted an official statement as saying.

"These manoeuvres will proceed in 16 of Iran's 30 provinces. They are part of exercises that are scheduled on an annual basis."

The Revolutionary Guards earlier this year staged naval and air manoeuvres aimed at testing the defence and preparation capacities of their ballistic missile units.

The force said then that it had successfully tested a surface-to-sea missile with a range of 350 kilometres (217 miles) and a new anti-aircraft defence system delivered in January by Russia.

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