Iran's Revolutionary Guards began a 10-day missile training exercise on Monday, the Iranian state news agency IRNA reported. 

Revolutionary Guards Commander General Amir Ali Hajizadeh, whose unit conducts exercises in the Gulf region every year, told the press Iran's latest maneuvers were "a message of peace and friendship to the countries of the area."
 
The exercise, titled the "Great Prophet Mohommad War Games," and referred to internallyas "Great Prophet-6," will reportedly feature the firing of ballisitic missiles of various ranges.
 
Hajizadeh confirmed the missile-launching exercise will take place for the press, without specifying how long the maneuvers will last. "Short, medium and long-range missiles will be fired, especially the Khalij-Fars, Sejil, Fateh, Ghiam, and Shahab-1 and -2 missiles," Hajizadeh said.
 
In late May, Iran said it had equipped the Revolutionary Guards with a new surface-to-surface missile, the Qiam-1, which was built locally and test-fired last August. Iran maintains it has a wide range of missiles, some capable of striking targets inside arch-foe Israel as well as US bases in the Middle East.
 
Iran's missile program is under the control of the Guards.
 
Iran's space and missile programs have been a concern in the West, which fears Tehran is developing a ballistic capability to launch potential nuclear weapons, which it suspects Iran is developing under the guise of its civilian atomic program.
 
Iran has steadfastly denied its nuclear program has military aspirations.