LOC16:31
13:31 GMT
TEHRAN, July 18 (KUNA) -- Iran will hold military exercises next month in
which the country will use for the first time its local military aircraft
"Azarakhsh", Minister of Defense, Mostafa Mohammad Najjar, said Wednesday.
The Ministry of Defense and the Army will hold joint military exercises
next month, Najjar told reporters following a meeting for the Cabinet adding
that "the fighter Azarakhsh will fly for the first time in these drills
besides the use of new weapons and missile."
Meanwhile, the Iranian Defense Minister referred to reports, mainly Israeli
and American, that Iran had 600 missiles directed at Israel saying that "They
are no more than a psychological war launched by the enemy.. We serve peace
and stability in the Middle East."
Najjar played down the Israeli threats to his country saying that after the
severe defeat in Lebanon last summer "Israel is launching a psychological war,
but it cannot see mighty Iran."
"We follow closely all movements by the enemy and if we see any against our
land, our retaliation will be severe," he said, "We do not think the Israeli
military can harm us and in the meantime time our armed forces are at their
best."
On boosting security cooperation with Iran's neighbors, Najjar said "We are
following up the topic with the Foreign Ministry and very soon we will have
joint drills and military and defense cooperation with others."(end)
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KUNA 181631 Jul 07NNNN