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Last update - 20:58 07/09/2008
Iran army to hold war games amid speculation over Israeli strike
By Reuters
Tags: Israel, Iran, Nuclear 

Iran's armed forces will begin three days of war games on Monday involving anti-aircraft defense systems, Iranian media reported Sunday.

The exercises will be held amid persistent speculation about a possible U.S. or Israeli strike on Iran's nuclear facilities, which the West and Israel say are part of a clandestine bid to build atomic bombs, despite Tehran's denials.

The ISNA news agency said both Iran's Revolutionary Guards and its regular army would take part in the drills.
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"Maneuvers with the participation of anti-aircraft defense systems will be held for three days starting Monday," it said, without giving further details.

The English-language Iran Daily said the aim was to maintain and upgrade the combat readiness of relevant units as well as to "test new weapons and defense plans."

Speculation about a possible attack on Iran's nuclear facilities has risen since Israel staged an air force exercise in June which was reported to be a simulation of a strike against Iran. Iran says it would hit back if attacked.

Also Sunday, President Shimon Peres told the British newspaper Sunday Times that if Israel were to attack Iran, it could trigger a much bigger war. He added that he had warned Prime Minister Ehud Olmert against a military offensive, urging him to remain on the diplomatic path in dealing with the Islamic republic's nuclear threat.

On Saturday, Iran dismissed a warning by France's president Nicolas Sarkozy that the Islamic Republic was taking a dangerous gamble over its nuclear program because one day Israel could attack. The Islamic Republic has said, though, it would respond by attacking U.S. interests and Israel if any such assault was made.

An Iranian commander last week said the Iranian air force would hold exercises during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, which began in Iran on Sept. 2, but it was not immediately clear whether he was referring to the same drills as the ISNA report.

Alongside the regular army, Iran has a Revolutionary Guards force viewed as guardians of the Islamic ruling system. The Guards have a separate command and their own air, sea and land units, but often work with the regular military.

Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman last week denied reports, based on comments from Israeli defense sources, that Iran had bought Russia's advanced S-300 anti-aircraft missile system and would get it this year.

There have been conflicting reports about whether Iran was buying the S-300 system. Defense Minister Mostafa Mohammad Najjar said last year Russia had agreed to deliver the missiles to Iran under a signed contract. Russia denied such plans.

Iran, the world's fourth largest oil producer, says its nuclear program is aimed at making electricity, not bombs. The United States says it wants diplomacy to end the row but has not ruled out military action if that fails.


Related articles:
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  • Report: Ex-Mossad chief says strike on Iran could 'affect us for 100 years'
  • Iranian official says Iran will strike U.S., Israel if attacked
  • U.S. admiral: Iran strike on Israel 'likely'
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      1.   The Rat and the Tiger 11:15  |  Marianito Tan 07/09/08
      2.   End the dangers of speculation: Accept the Saudi Plan 12:03  |  Ivar 07/09/08
      3.   Israeli strike on Iran? 12:30  |  David Nigel Braham 07/09/08
      4.   Saudi Plan is NO Plan, Using Full Force is Answer 13:50  |  Dave Levy 07/09/08
      5.   persistent speculation? 14:57  |  Axel 07/09/08
      6.   The reports suggest 15:18  |  Chris Linthwaite 07/09/08
      7.   A preventive strike against a declared genocidal Iran should ... 15:31  |  Jerome Bernier 07/09/08
      8.   #5 And what do you suggest be done with Israel`s nukes? 15:40  |  Maureen Ann 07/09/08
      9.   #6 Stupid comment 16:11  |  Persian Hero 07/09/08
      10.   #7 Jerome Bernier. My post... 16:13  |  Maureen Ann 07/09/08
      11.   iran 17:10  |  azad 07/09/08
      12.   #6 Christ Linthwaite I meant #7 17:32  |  Persian Hero 07/09/08
      13.   #7 Jerome Bernier, read #9 17:38  |  Persian Hero 07/09/08
      14.   The IAF is not capable of such an attack 18:19  |  Natallie Durson 07/09/08
      15.   to Persian hero #9 about resistence "fighters" 19:33  |  JP 07/09/08
      16.   How much longer? 20:00  |  Yuri 07/09/08
      17.   israel`s leaders should seek peace with their enemies 20:32  |  dream lover 07/09/08
      18.   To Chris Linthwaite, ignorance is bliss isn`t it? 22:00  |  Dan 07/09/08
      19.   Practising for World War Three 22:15  |  Realist 07/09/08
      20.   #14; Durson is full of crap 22:30  |  Murray the Mongoose 07/09/08
      21.   #18 Dan of Haifa 22:46  |  Chris Linthwaite 07/09/08
      22.   #20 Murray the Mongoose 22:49  |  Chris Linthwaite 07/09/08
      23.   Iran sounds like Japan 23:00  |  nuchem 07/09/08
      24.   #15 JP 00:06  |  Persian Hero 08/09/08
      25.   # 18 dan 00:09  |  Axel 08/09/08
      26.   Is "Jerome Bernier" also "Jean van Daem"? # 7 00:21  |  Clickfool 08/09/08
      27.   For Murray the Mongoose # 20 00:28  |  Clickfool 08/09/08
      28.   # 20 murray 00:50  |  Axel 08/09/08
      29.   Yes its time for war games. Who will they play with.? 02:13  |  Stephen 08/09/08
      30.   IAF won`t bomb Iranian nuclear sites. 06:52  |  Fortuna Benmayor 08/09/08
      31.   Iran vs Israel 07:38  |  Tim 08/09/08
      32.   Stephen #29 07:55  |  Murray the Mongoose 08/09/08
      33.   There is no other choice but to deny Iran nuclear weapons. 08:51  |  Jean Van Daem 08/09/08
      34.   MAUREEN What do you suggest be done with Arab WMD`s 08:53  |  PETER SM 08/09/08
      35.   IVAR What has Iran said about accepting the Saudi plan? 08:55  |  PETER SM 08/09/08
      36.   to Tan, Iran is not Iraq, Israel will exist no more if it attack 09:02  |  gus 08/09/08
      37.   GUS. Iran and puppets should stop threatening Israel 11:11  |  PETER SM 08/09/08
      38.   Iran,don`t wait ! Take the Crime Syndicate and its junior partner 12:49  |  lakshmi 08/09/08
      39.   get real 17:55  |  ravi 08/09/08
      40.   to number 4 18:00  |  john 08/09/08
      41.   Ahmadinjad is playing soldier 20:11  |  Connie 08/09/08
      42.   iran will be erased 20:11  |  frenz 08/09/08
      43.   Natalie Durson 20:15  |  Connie 08/09/08
      44.   #43, Connie...to Natalie.. 20:58  |  Silvienne 08/09/08
      45.   Connie # 43 re: being frightened of an Israeli attack 21:00  |  American in NY 08/09/08
      46.   # 43 connie 23:49  |  Axel 08/09/08
      47.   iran ,israel or usa 02:04  |  nick 09/09/08
      48.   #14 Durson 10:04  |  Jasper 09/09/08
      49.   Try to End the Islamicized Terror. Rehabilitate Islam! 15:58  |  iAmForDecency 09/09/08
      50.   IRANIAN WAR GAMES 17:33  |  Dennis 09/09/08
      51.   I THINK THAT ISRAEL SHOULD HAVE THE OPTION 17:34  |  Dennis 09/09/08
      52.   israel atrocities 22:07  |  David 09/09/08
      53.   Zionists are bound to destroy life 02:00  |  Jalouf 10/09/08
      54.   John #40 11:07  |  Mahdi 10/09/08
      55.   The Rat and The Tiger 22:56  |  Jane 03/10/08
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