Iran holds war games to test defenses

By Hossein Jaseb

TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iran staged air defense exercises on Monday and said anyone attacking the Islamic Republic would regret it, Iranian news agencies reported.

The maneuvers took place on the day the United Nations' nuclear watchdog said an inquiry into Western allegations of secret atom bomb research had reached a standstill because of Iranian failure to cooperate.

The Fars and ISNA news agencies said the air force drill was being held in half of the Islamic Republic's 30 provinces but did not give details or say how long it would last.

Dozens of aircraft took part in the maneuvers, in which an imaginary enemy would attack Iran's air defenses, ISNA said.

Iran has said neither U.S. nor Israeli forces are in a position to strike but has vowed to strike back at Israel and U.S. interests and shipping if it is attacked.

Military analysts say Iran's real ability to respond could be with more unconventional tactics than a missile salvo, such as deploying small craft to hit oil tankers, or using allies in the area to strike at U.S. or Israeli interests.

The commander of Iran's aerial defense, Brigadier General Ahmad Mighani, said the exercise was staged to increase military readiness, Fars said.

"(Mighani) emphasized that the enemies would receive a serious response for any aggression and we would surprise them and make them regretful," ISNA reported.

THREATS

Iran is estimated to have 280 combat aircraft, including Russian-made MiG 29 aircraft, but serviceability may be 80 percent or lower, military analysts say.

Washington says it wants a diplomatic solution to the nuclear standoff, but has not ruled out military action if that fails. Iran, the world's fourth-largest oil exporter, says its nuclear program is a peaceful drive to generate electricity.

An International Atomic Energy Agency report issued on Monday said Iran had raised the number of centrifuges enriching uranium to 3,820, compared with 3,300 in May, with over 2,000 more being installed.

But U.N. officials said Iran seemed a long way from refining enough uranium to build a nuclear bomb, if it so chose.

Speculation about a possible attack on Iran's nuclear sites has risen since Israel staged an air force exercise in June which was reported to be a simulation of a strike against Iran.

"Threats by the Zionist regime and America against our country are empty," Defence Minister Mostafa Mohammad Najjar was quoted by Mehr News Agency on Sunday as saying.