Iran's military on Sunday launched a major military exercise in the Gulf of Oman, reports said.

The drills named “Zolfaqar-1400” come just days ahead of the nuclear talks with western powers which is set to begin on November 29.

The exercise reportedly involves Iran's Army, Navy, Air Force including its air defence forces and Army ground forces.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-warns-nuclear-talks-would-fail-unless-biden-provides-guarantees-426395">Also Read:&nbsp;Iran warns nuclear talks would fail unless Biden provides guarantees</a>

Iran's army said homegrown drones &nbsp;Ababil-3, Yasir, Sadeq, Mohajer-4 will also be part of the exercise. The drills will be carried out over a wide area stretching from the Strait of Hormuz to the northern part of the Indian Ocean.

Reports said Iran will also be using reconnaissance and combat drones&nbsp;as its air defence units will target mock targets.

Iran's latest move comes as nuclear talks are set to begin after a five-month gap to revive the 2015 nuclear deal even as Raisi's regime seeks complete lifting of US sanctions imposed by the former Trump administration.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-slaps-sanctions-on-iran-drone-programme-ahead-of-nuclear-talks-425096">Also Read:&nbsp;US slaps sanctions on Iran drone programme ahead of nuclear talks</a>

President Ebrahim Raisi had earlier asserted that although the country won't leave the negotiating table but it will also "not retreat".

President Trump had pulled the United States out of the nuclear deal with Iran and had reimposed sanctions on the country's oil and financial sectors as the country restarted its nuclear programme.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ahead-of-talks-with-eu-on-nuclear-deal-iran-tests-anti-missile-defences-420489">Also Read:&nbsp;Ahead of talks with EU on nuclear deal, Iran tests anti-missile defences</a>

Hassan Salami, the commander of the Revolutionary Guards in a defiant message recently claimed that the country had emerged stronger despite US "policies and strategies".

(With inputs from Agencies)

Iran's military on Sunday launched a major military exercise in the Gulf of Oman, reports said. The drills named “Zolfaqar-1400” come just days ahead of the nuclear talks with western powers which is set to begin on November 29.

Iran's military on Sunday launched a major military exercise in the Gulf of Oman, reports said. The drills named “Zolfaqar-1400” come just days ahead of the nuclear talks with western powers which is set to begin on November 29. The exercise reportedly involves Iran's Army, Navy, Air Force including its air defence forces and Army ground forces. Also Read: Iran warns nuclear talks would fail unless Biden provides guarantees Iran's army said homegrown drones Ababil-3, Yasir, Sadeq, Mohajer-4 will also be part of the exercise. The drills will be carried out over a wide area stretching from the Strait of Hormuz to the northern part of the Indian Ocean. Reports said Iran will also be using reconnaissance and combat drones as its air defence units will target mock targets. Iran's latest move comes as nuclear talks are set to begin after a five-month gap to revive the 2015 nuclear deal even as Raisi's regime seeks complete lifting of US sanctions imposed by the former Trump administration. Also Read: US slaps sanctions on Iran drone programme ahead of nuclear talks President Ebrahim Raisi had earlier asserted that although the country won't leave the negotiating table but it will also "not retreat". President Trump had pulled the United States out of the nuclear deal with Iran and had reimposed sanctions on the country's oil and financial sectors as the country restarted its nuclear programme. Also Read: Ahead of talks with EU on nuclear deal, Iran tests anti-missile defences Hassan Salami, the commander of the Revolutionary Guards in a defiant message recently claimed that the country had emerged stronger despite US "policies and strategies". (With inputs from Agencies)

Ahead of nuclear talks, Iran conducts military exercise

As Iran continues to battle with the US over the 2015 nuclear deal, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken told the House Foreign Affairs Committee that it is "unclear whether Iran is willing and prepared to do what it needs to do to come back into compliance."

Watch:

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The US secretary of state's statement comes as the UN nuclear watchdog had said last week that the Rouhani government hadn't answered questions on undeclared nuclear activity.

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) had said that there are at least three undeclared locations including a fourth site where Iran&nbsp;had allegedly carried out experiments with uranium between 2002 and 2003.

Iranian officials had entered into talks with world powers after the Biden administration signalled its intention to revive the 2015 nuclear deal which the former Trump administration had rejected.

The US has put down compliance with the nuclear deal as a precondition, while Iran has insisted that the US should lift all sanctions imposed by Trump to revive the nuclear deal.

"We're not even at the stage of returning to compliance for compliance," Blinken told the committee even as officials in Vienna continue to negotiate with Iran.&nbsp;

"We don't know if that's actually going to happen," Blinken added on the fate of Iran's compliance over the nuclear deal.

In a report earlier, the IAEA had said Iran had reportedly enriched uranium around 16 times above the limit laid down by the nuclear deal.

Britain, China, France, Germany and Russian officials along with the EU are currently negotiating in Vienna with Iranian officials ensuring indirect talks with the US.

(With inputs from Agencies)

As Iran continues to battle with the US over the 2015 nuclear deal, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken told the House Foreign Affairs Committee that it is "unclear whether Iran is willing and prepared to do what it needs to do to come back into compliance.

As Iran continues to battle with the US over the 2015 nuclear deal, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken told the House Foreign Affairs Committee that it is "unclear whether Iran is willing and prepared to do what it needs to do to come back into compliance." Watch: The US secretary of state's statement comes as the UN nuclear watchdog had said last week that the Rouhani government hadn't answered questions on undeclared nuclear activity. International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) had said that there are at least three undeclared locations including a fourth site where Iran had allegedly carried out experiments with uranium between 2002 and 2003. Iranian officials had entered into talks with world powers after the Biden administration signalled its intention to revive the 2015 nuclear deal which the former Trump administration had rejected. The US has put down compliance with the nuclear deal as a precondition, while Iran has insisted that the US should lift all sanctions imposed by Trump to revive the nuclear deal. "We're not even at the stage of returning to compliance for compliance," Blinken told the committee even as officials in Vienna continue to negotiate with Iran. "We don't know if that's actually going to happen," Blinken added on the fate of Iran's compliance over the nuclear deal. In a report earlier, the IAEA had said Iran had reportedly enriched uranium around 16 times above the limit laid down by the nuclear deal. Britain, China, France, Germany and Russian officials along with the EU are currently negotiating in Vienna with Iranian officials ensuring indirect talks with the US. (With inputs from Agencies)

'Unclear' about Iran's nuclear compliance, Blinken to lawmakers

The International Atomic Energy Agency(IAEA) said on Monday that&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-says-talks-with-saudi-arabia-ongoing-in-good-atmosphere-388608">Iran </a>had enriched uranium stockpile 16 times over the deal limit even as the country's foreign ministry said it had made "significant" progress during the Vienna talks on reviving the 2015 nuclear deal.

Watch:

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-iran-to-continue-talks-to-revive-nuclear-deal-386198/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/irans-uranium-enrichment-now-at-levels-of-countries-making-bombs-iaea-chief-387711"> IAEA</a> said it was "concerned" over Iran's undeclared&nbsp;sites where nuclear activity may have taken place despite queries and discussions between the two sides.

The United States under the former Trump administration had walked out of the 2015 nuclear pact with Iran three years ago.

The Iranian government since then had vowed to ramp up its nuclear programme, however, the Biden administration has said it will return to the pact if Iran complies with the uranium enrichment limits.

According to the 2015 nuclear pact, Iran cannot develop nuclear weapons. Iran had earlier allowed the UN nuclear body to carry on monitoring and verification activities in the country.

However, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken while expressing doubts about Iran had said it was unclear whether the country was "ready and willing" to take steps to return to compliance under the nuclear deal.

Iran in turn said&nbsp;talks in Vienna depended on "political decision" by the Biden administration even as the Iranian foreign ministry asserted that an agreement was "within reach".

Iran's foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif hit back at Blinken saying: "Trump's legacy is past its expiration date. Drop it," referring to the harsh sanctions imposed by former President Trump in the last few years.&nbsp;

In a report earlier, IAEA had said Iran has enriched uranium to up to 63 per cent purity at the Natanz enrichment plant.

(With Agency inputs)

The International Atomic Energy Agency(IAEA) said on Monday that Iran had enriched uranium stockpile 16 times over the deal limit even as the country's foreign ministry said it had made "significant" progress during the Vienna talks on reviving the 2015 nuclear deal.

The International Atomic Energy Agency(IAEA) said on Monday that Iran had enriched uranium stockpile 16 times over the deal limit even as the country's foreign ministry said it had made "significant" progress during the Vienna talks on reviving the 2015 nuclear deal. Watch: The IAEA said it was "concerned" over Iran's undeclared sites where nuclear activity may have taken place despite queries and discussions between the two sides. The United States under the former Trump administration had walked out of the 2015 nuclear pact with Iran three years ago. The Iranian government since then had vowed to ramp up its nuclear programme, however, the Biden administration has said it will return to the pact if Iran complies with the uranium enrichment limits. According to the 2015 nuclear pact, Iran cannot develop nuclear weapons. Iran had earlier allowed the UN nuclear body to carry on monitoring and verification activities in the country. However, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken while expressing doubts about Iran had said it was unclear whether the country was "ready and willing" to take steps to return to compliance under the nuclear deal. Iran in turn said talks in Vienna depended on "political decision" by the Biden administration even as the Iranian foreign ministry asserted that an agreement was "within reach". Iran's foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif hit back at Blinken saying: "Trump's legacy is past its expiration date. Drop it," referring to the harsh sanctions imposed by former President Trump in the last few years. In a report earlier, IAEA had said Iran has enriched uranium to up to 63 per cent purity at the Natanz enrichment plant. (With Agency inputs)

IAEA 'concerned' as Iran's enriched uranium stockpile reaches 16 times over deal limit