Iranian forces fired what military officers said was a new
generation of surface-to-air missiles Monday during a wide-
ranging naval exercise that focused on striking hypothetical
unmanned aircraft and vessels in international waters to the
south of the country, Iranian media reported.  The missiles were
fired on the fourth day of a six-day naval exercise that started
Friday, when Iran announced that it had begun the exercises that
would test a new version of its Thunder surface-to-air midrange
missile. They were meant to demonstrate the country's defense of
its territorial waters, the official Islamic Republic News
Agency said.  In addition, Iran deployed warships and
helicopters to escort commercial ships and oil tankers as part
of a drill meant to show the country's ability to combat piracy,
it reported. The exercise also included drills using Iranian-
made drones and submarines.  The semiofficial Fars news agency
quoted an Iranian naval commander, Rear Adm. Alireza Nayyeri, as
saying that the navy had "boos