Iran to hold aerial defense maneuver: report

TEHRAN, Nov. 21 -- Iran will launch a large-scale joint aerial defense maneuver on Sunday to prepare itself for any potential attack against the country, local English-language PressTV reported on Saturday.

"The large scale exercise will start tomorrow and will be carried out in three phases over a five-day period," Brigadier General Ahmad Miqani, head of the air-defense headquarters of Iran' s armed forces was quoted as saying.

The maneuver dubbed "Asemane Velayat 2" will cover a vast area in the northwest, west, south and southwest of the country, Miqani said, adding that both the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps and Iran 's regular armed forces will participate in the exercises.

The five-day maneuver is aimed at developing the country's aerial defense against any potential attacks -- especially on the country's nuclear plants, he said.

Miqani also noted that Iran has all the necessary information about the enemies' equipment who will find it impossible to violate Iran's airspace.

The United States and Israel have consistently refused to rule out the possibility of military strikes against Iran over its refusal to halt its nuclear program.

The United States and its allies have accused Iran of trying to develop nuclear weapons under the cover of a civilian nuclear program. Iran has denied the U.S. charges and insisted that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes only.