Iran says it is to test-fire long-range missiles during a naval exercise in the Gulf.
The semi-official Fars news agency reported the tests will be of surface-to-sea missiles.
Iran began the 10-day naval exercise in the Gulf 10 days ago and while this is not the first time Iran has held such manoeuvres, the BBC points out that this exercise is happening at a particularly delicate and sensitive time.
Iran has threatened to close Strait of Hormuz - the route take by a high proportion of Gulf oil exports to the West - if any more US-led sanctions are taken against its nuclear programmes.
Teheran has also threatened to surge global oil prices to more than $200 a barrel if the West imposes sanctions on its oil exports.
Tensions have risen since the United Nations nuclear watchdog reported last month that Iran appears to have worked on designing an atomic bomb and may still be pursuing research to that end.
Iran has denied this saying it needs nuclear technology to generate electricity to meet growing domestic demand.
