Topic: Iran’s nuclear program

Uranium enrichment facility in Tehran

MOSCOW, February 20 (RIA Novosti)

Iran launched on Monday four-day air defense drills to train protection of important national facilities, primarily nuclear facilities, Iran’s Fars news agency reported.

The exercise in the south of Iran involves various missile systems, radars and aircraft.

The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) ground forces also launched military exercise, code-named Valfajr, on Sunday in the desert area of central Iran and in the central province of Yazd.

Fars quoted Commander of IRGC Major General Mohammad Ali Jaffari as saying that “The wargames came after the U.S. threats and aggressions, especially its invasion of neighboring and regional states.”

The Western powers suspect Iran is seeking to create a nuclear bomb and have tightened sanctions. Tehran says it only wants to produce its own energy.

Speculation has also been growing in recent weeks that Israel may be preparing to attack OPEC’s No. 2 oil exporter to counter what it views as a serious threat to its national security. The United States has also refused to rule out force.