Iran has completed a large-scale military exercise to protect the country's nuclear facilities, the ISNA news agency quoted Air Force Brigadier General Ahmad Miqani as saying.

Iran launched the five-day drill, Modafean-e Aseman-e-Velayat 2 (Sky Defenders 2), on Sunday to strengthen its aerial defense against potential attacks on its nuclear facilities.

"The exercise... made it possible to test modern air defense armaments... and assess the Iranian air defense capabilities to protect and ensure the security of the country's vitally important facilities," Miqani said.

The exercise reportedly covered 600,000 square kilometers, spanning the central, western and southern parts of the country.

"Advances in the defense capabilities of the air force and the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps... enabled the country to counter attacks by state-of-the-art missiles," Brigadier General Ali Moqiseh was quoted as saying on Wednesday.

Iran frequently holds military drills and shows off modern weaponry in an effort to demonstrate its readiness to thwart any attack against its nuclear facilities.

The West suspects Iran of pursuing a secret nuclear weapons program, but the Islamic Republic says it needs nuclear power solely for civilian purposes.

The U.S. and Israel have not ruled out taking military action against Iran to stop it from obtaining nuclear weapons.

MOSCOW, November 26 (RIA Novosti)