Iran's military forces were four days into extensive drills on Wednesday that many believe are essentially preparations for how the country could react to a U.S., Israeli or combined attack on its nuclear facilities.

Brigadier Gen. Mohammad-Nazar Azimi, commander of the powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' Najaf Ashraf West Headquarters, has touted the nationwide drills as including "new weapons and equipment."

Azimi also said the exercises would test the capabilities of Iran's Basij paramilitary forces, who are tasked with maintaining domestic security.

The war games are likely aimed not only at demonstrating Iran's ability to respond to and defend against an attack from outside the country, but also to ensure the Basij are ready to quash any domestic uprising against the country's Islamic cleric rulers that could be precipitated by such an attack.

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Some Iranian analysts who are critical of the government and spoke to CBS News on the condition of anonymity said the drills may be a demonstration of power by Iran prompted by the dramatic changes in the balance of power in the Middle East — with Israel severely disabling Iranian-backed groups in Gaza and Lebanon, and long-time Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad being toppled by rebel forces.

Dr. Yasser Ershadmanesh, a conservative analyst who lectures at the University of Law and International Relations in Tehran, told CBS News on Wednesday that the "IRGC needed to have this military drill to show them that Iran is ready in all aspects."

Ershadmanesh said Israel and its Western allies were exerting pressure on Tehran and presented an "imminent threat … so this drill will show Israel and the U.S. that Iran is completely ready, and will send a message to the world and region about Iran's power and readiness."

Iran's leaders are likely concerned that President-elect Donald Trump, once he comes back into office on Jan. 20, will increase that pressure significantly by applying further economic sanctions and possibly by supporting an Israeli military attack on Iran's nuclear and or missile facilities.

The tone of an address delivered Wednesday by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei seemed to indicate an expectation of increasing tension with the U.S., and a clear unwillingness to negotiate with Washington.

"Some people ask about why the Islamic Republic is not willing to negotiate and communicate with the United States, despite its relations with European countries and the existence of the European embassy in Iran," he said. "Iran, before the (1979) revolution, was under the control of the United States, but the Islamic Revolution caused that huge political and economic wealth to be taken out of the hands of the Americans. So, their hatred for the revolution is a camel grudge (long-term grudge) — very different from European countries."

Trump and his close advisers have been considering options to prevent Iran from building a nuclear weapon — something the president-elect has said he will not allow.

Iranian officials have long said they do not intend to pursue nuclear weapons, but since Trump pulled the U.S. out of the international nuclear deal with Tehran during his first term in office, Iran has steadily ramped up its nuclear enrichment programs, moving the country closer to the ability to make an atomic bomb.

The Wall Street Journal reported recently that Trump and his team have discussed the possibility of preemptive airstrikes on Iran's nuclear facilities as part of that planning.

One of key features of the ongoing "Great Prophet 19" military exercise has been a simulated aerial assault on Iran's Natanz nuclear facility, with fictional strikes seeing an enemy hit the plant with a bunker-buster bomb – the type of weapon Israel or the U.S. could use if they did target Iran's underground nuclear work.

Iran's semi-official SNN news agency said the ongoing exercise began on Jan. 4 and includes air, ground and sea forces and weapons systems, and that it is meant to test Iran's domestically made air defense systems, including a number of different short and mid-range missiles.

Among the weapons being tested in the drills is the Dezful surface-to-air missile system, which is an upgraded version of the Russian-made Tor M1 system. The system can fire up to two rockets simultaneously from mobile launch vehicles and is designed to shoot down aircraft or ballistic missiles.

IRGC spokesman Brigadier Gen. Ali Mohammad Naeini previously said there also would be an electronic warfare dimension to the exercise.

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Thousands of armed militia in Iran march against 'threats'

Members of Iranian paramilitary Bassij women's forces march with weapons during the rally in Tehran.

Thousands of fighters linked to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps paraded with heavy weapons and vehicles through the streets of Tehran on Friday showing their readiness to face "threats".

The parade by paramilitary Basij volunteers comes after the weakening of Iran's allies Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in the Gaza Strip, during wars with Israel. It also follows last month's toppling by Islamist-led rebels of Syrian president Bashar al-Assad, whom Tehran also supported.

Vehicles mounted with rocket launchers, artillery and naval commandos moved through the streets. Fighters in combat gear marched on foot with rocket launchers, and black-clad women carried rifles.

Some dragged coffins decorated with Israeli flags, as flags of Hezbollah flew along with Iranian and Palestinian banners.

A Guards commander, General Mohammadreza Naghdi, singled out Iran's enemies the United States and Israel during the gathering.

The US, he said, was "behind all the misfortune in the Muslim world."

As for Israel, "if we are able to destroy the Zionist regime and withdraw the American bases in the region, one of our big problems will be resolved," he said.

The Guards' commander for the capital, General Hassan Hassanzadeh, told state television that one aim of the rally was to "support the population of Gaza and Palestine".

Supporting the Palestinian cause has been a pillar of Iranian foreign policy since the 1979 Islamic revolution.

"We also want to show that the Basij are ready to confront all threats from enemies of the Islamic revolution," Hassanzadeh said.

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