Iran announces antiaircraft maneuvers to protect nuclear facilities

Iran will run in the coming weeks an exercise in large-scale air defense, announced the antiaircraft forces commander of the Revolutionary Guards, General Farzad Esmaili. "All the air defense systems of the Guard and the Army will be used this year" provided during the month of Iranian Mehr, between September 21 and October 21, Gen. Esmaili official IRNA agency. According to the commander, the goal of the maneuvers is to demonstrate "the ability of crisis management" of Iranian forces in the event of "unexpected scenarios." The general explained that the priority of air defense Revolutionary Guard is to protect nuclear facilities. "Most of our resources are mobilized around these facilities," he said. The announcement came amid speculation about a possible Israeli attack on Iranian nuclear facilities. Israel, the United States and European powers fear that Iran's nuclear program has as its goal the production of the atomic bomb, which Tehran denies, saying the plan is only civil. The agency Mehr reported on Sunday, based on another military source, Iran has strengthened the capabilities of radars, missile batteries and means of electronic warfare along the northwest frontier, bordering Turkey, Armenia and Azerbaijan. "The equipment was installed at more than 300 points," said Gen. Rasul Rezvani-Kia, commander of air defense in the region.