Tasnim� A large-scale military exercise that kicked off in Iran�s southeastern areas on Sunday is taking place in three main stages, Army Ground Force Commander Brigadier General Kiomars Heidari said.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the first day of the war game, codenamed �Muhammad Rasulullah-4� (Muhammad, the Messenger of God), Brigadier General Heidari said forces from all 23 units of the Army Ground Force are involved in the ongoing exercise.

Covering an area of more than 200,000 square kilometers, which has very unique features, the war game is being held in three steps, he stated.

The Ground Force decided to hold the drill in the southeastern regions in order for enhanced synergy with the Navy, which had already staged a war game in the same area, Brigadier General Heidari added.

In separate remarks, Commander of Army Ground Force Airborne Unit General Hooshang Yari said the war game will include choppers, parachute jumps, heliborne operations and aerial rescue missions.

The Iranian armed forces hold routine military drills throughout the year.

In September, Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Major General Mohammad Hossein Baqeri said there will be no delay or slowdown in the country�s military tests and war games, adding that Iran has devised comprehensive defensive strategies to counter all threats.