(JTA) — Iran opened a five-day air defense war games exercise reportedly to test its skill against the Israeli and United States militaries.
The exercise, which began Tuesday, was designed by Iran to examine its air defense system, according to reports.
Called "Defenders of the Sky 3," the exercise simulates an attack on the Islamic Republic’s borders and nuclear facilities. The war games reportedly are said to test Iran’s skill against Israel and the United States in the event that one or both of them decide to launch a military strike against Iran’s nuclear facilities.
"The Zionist regime engages in various maneuvers in order to maintain its readiness and create psychological warfare, but they couldn’t even defeat Hezbollah and Hamas, so they are no threat to Iran," General Ahmad Miqani, commander of the Khatam al-Anbia Air Defense Base, told the Iranian news service Sunday, according to Ynet.
The exercise reportedly will include tests of Iranian long-range missiles that are similar in design to the Russian S-300, which Russia recently declined to sell to Iran.
Iran is set to hold negotiations over its nuclear program with six world powers — the United States, Britain, France, Russia, China and Germany — beginning early next month. Iran is currently under U.S. and international sanctions until it comes clean on its nuclear program.
This week’s war games reportedly are one of the largest in Iran’s history.
