The United States and other Western powers are pushing for tougher sanctions against Iran for its refusal to suspend uranium enrichment - a process needed both in electricity generation and weapons production - and ensure access to its nuclear facilities.
There has been continued speculation that the United States or Israel might launch air strikes against Iran's nuclear facilities. Washington and Tel Aviv have consistently refused to rule out the possibility of military action against Iran over its refusal to halt its controversial nuclear program.
On September 18, Iran completed a three-day series of Air Force and missile defense exercises throughout the country.
The exercise, named Defenders of Velayat, is successfully completed," the Air Force commander, Brigadier General Ahmad Mighani said on Thursday. "We have accomplished all set tasks of the maneuvers."
Iran has conducted several high-profile war games this year, while promising a powerful retaliation in the event of any act of aggression against the country.
Iran recently took delivery of 29 Russian-made Tor-M1 air defense missile systems under a $700 million contract signed in late 2005. Russia has also trained Iranian Tor-M1 specialists, including radar operators and crew commanders.
In July, Iran successfully launched an upgraded Shahab-3 ballistic missile with a range of 2,000 km (1,240 miles), and several missiles with a range of 350 kilometers (217 miles) 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.
Iran is currently under three sets of relatively mild UN Security Council sanctions for defying demands to halt uranium enrichment, which it says it needs purely for electricity generation despite Western accusations that the program is geared toward weapon production.
