The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) of Iran conducted a missile launch and air defense system test exercise over the weekend, including in Tehran and Shiraz, according to reports. This comes amid fears among the leadership that Israel could use the protests as a weapon to target the Islamic regime.
According to the New York Times, senior officials in Tehran have admitted in closed-door talks that the Islamic Republic has entered a “survival mode,” with demonstrations continuing for a week amid economic collapse and political discontent. Iranian officials have expressed concern that if the instability in the country continues, Israel will take advantage of the situation and attack its territory again.
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Tehran is also worried about US President Donald Trump’s threat to intervene in the crisis and come to the aid of the protesters. “If Iran shoots and violently kills peaceful protesters, which is their custom, the United States of America will come to their rescue,” Trump wrote. “We are locked and loaded and ready to go.”
Iran conducted an air defense drill over Tehran using anti-aircraft systems. pic.twitter.com/NhIUuLYdjx
— Mintel World (@mintelworld) January 5, 2026
The remark led to many reactions from senior Iranian officials and the Supreme National Security Council of the Islamic Republic, following which an emergency meeting was convened.
Following this, Iranian state television announced that the IRGC launched a missile launch and air defense system test exercise last night. Videos showing air defence activity appeared from multiple locations, including Tehran and Maragheh in northwestern Iran, according to various Persian language social media channels.
The IRGC has not issued an official statement confirming the nature or scope of the military activity. Iranian authorities routinely conduct air defence exercises, though the timing coincided with heightened regional tensions.
To add to speculation over Iran's future moves, the country's authorities also posted several banners across Tehran at the start of January threatening further attacks against Israel and the US base in Qatar, with state media publishing images of banners showing locations of previous strikes carried out by the Iranian military. According to social media posts from across the city, the phrase "It Will Happen Again" was posted on the street banners.
