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R E G I O N: Iran plans air force games in Ramazan

* Army chief stresses need for long-range air defence capability citing extra-region threats

TEHRAN: The Iranian air force will hold wargames during Ramazan, a military commander said.

The exercises will be held amid ongoing speculation about a possible US or Israeli strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities. “Large wargames of the armed forces’ air force will be held in the blessed month of Ramazan,” said Iran’s armed forces commander-in-chief, Brigadier-General Ataollah Salehi, Fars News Agency reported.

Salehi was speaking at a ceremony for the armed forces’ new air force chief, Brigadier-General Hassah Shah-Safi. “We have had leaps in the field of air defence and aviation in the past two years ... We hope to show to the public a number of locally manufactured warplanes in the current year,” Salehi said, IRNA news agency reported. Iran’s year ends in March.

Iran is estimated to have 280 combat aircraft, including Russian-made MiG 29 aircrafts, although only 80 percent or less may be operational, military analysts say. Asked about a recent report in a Dutch newspaper about an imminent US strike on Iran, a Foreign Ministry spokesman told a news conference on Monday it was conjecture: “We are not taking this seriously.” The spokesman also denied reports, based on comments from Israeli defence sources, that Iran had bought Russia’s advanced S-300 anti-aircraft missile system and would get it this year.

Air defence: According to IRNA, when Salehi was asked about the “negative propaganda” about reports Iran had bought the S-300, he said: “A long range air defence capability is needed by all countries of the region. All countries of the region are feeling threats from outside the region.” He did not elaborate. reuters

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