Senior Iranian officials said the country remains in a state of war with Israel despite the cessation of hostilities declared on 24 June. Maj. Gen. Yahya Rahim Safavi, a top adviser to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, and First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref warned that fighting could restart “at any moment” because no formal cease-fire agreement was ever signed. Defence Minister Brig. Gen. Aziz Nasirzadeh added that Tehran has fielded missiles “with far greater capabilities” than those used during the June conflict and would employ them if Israel strikes again. Iranian media quoted the minister as saying the earlier weapons were produced years ago, whereas the new inventory reflects recent advances. Demonstrating that readiness, Iran on 21–22 August staged its first military exercise since the 12-day war. The two-day “Sustainable Power 1404” drill in the Gulf of Oman and northern Indian Ocean saw the frigate IRIS Sabalan and the patrol vessel IRIS Ganaveh fire Nasir and Qadir cruise missiles at sea targets. A ballistic missile with a range exceeding 3,000 km was also tested, and authorities temporarily closed western Iranian airspace during the manoeuvres. The June war began when Israel launched hundreds of strikes on Iranian military and nuclear sites on 13 June, prompting Iranian missile and drone attacks on Israel and on a major US base in Qatar. Iranian officials say the fighting killed more than 1,000 people in Iran; Israel reported 28 fatalities. European governments have since warned they may trigger a UN sanctions ‘snapback’ by 31 August unless Tehran restores cooperation with nuclear inspectors, adding diplomatic pressure to the heightened military tensions.