TEHRAN, July 20 (RIA Novosti) - Iran will test new armaments in a major air exercise to be held soon, Iranian Defense Minister Mostafa Mohammad Najar said on Sunday.

"The Air Force exercises, Protectors of Velayat Air, which will be held soon, will test the newest armaments developed by specialists of the country's defense ministry," Najar said.

The Iranian defense minister said that Iranian specialists were developing combat hardware taking into account modern threats.

Iran successfully launched last week an upgraded Shahab-3 ballistic missile as part of the Great Prophet III military exercise in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, drawing a new wave of international criticism.

The Iranian missile tests came after the Israeli Air Force conducted military exercises involving over 100 fighters in early June. The exercises were widely seen as a 'dress rehearsal' for an attack on Iranian nuclear facilities.

Iran has reacted to rumors of an imminent attack by promising to deliver a "powerful blow" to any aggressor.