Article Posted on : - Nov 23, 2009

TEHRAN (AP/PTI): Iran has begun large-scale air defence war games aimed at protecting the country's nuclear facilities against any possible attack, the state television has reported.

It said the five-day drill will cover an area a third of the size of Iran and spread across the central, western and southern parts of the country.

Gen Ahmad Mighani, head of an air force unit that deals with threats to Iran's air space, said on Saturday the war games would cover regions where Iran's nuclear facilities are located.

The drill, which began Sunday, involves both Iran's elite Revolutionary Guard, the paramilitary Basij forces affiliated with the Guard as well as army units.

The United States and its European allies accuse Iran of embarking on a nuclear weapons programme. Iran denies the charge and insists the programme is only for peaceful purposes.

Israel has not ruled out military action to stop Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons.