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| Iran war games for nuclear sites | Iran war games for nuclear sites |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Iran has begun five days of war games to simulate attacks on its nuclear sites, state media report. | Iran has begun five days of war games to simulate attacks on its nuclear sites, state media report. |
| The head of Iran's air defence said the aim was to thwart aerial reconnaissance of the sites as well as air attacks. | The head of Iran's air defence said the aim was to thwart aerial reconnaissance of the sites as well as air attacks. |
| Brigadier General Ahmad Mighani said the training would also improve cooperation among different units. | Brigadier General Ahmad Mighani said the training would also improve cooperation among different units. |
| Iran has come under mounting pressure over its nuclear programme, which critics say is intended to produce nuclear weapons. | Iran has come under mounting pressure over its nuclear programme, which critics say is intended to produce nuclear weapons. |
| The US and Israel have not ruled out the prospect of a military attack to prevent Iran developing a nuclear weapon. | The US and Israel have not ruled out the prospect of a military attack to prevent Iran developing a nuclear weapon. |
| Tehran insists its programme is peaceful, and an aide to supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei reportedly warned Iran would retaliate to any attack with a missile strike on Tel Aviv. | Tehran insists its programme is peaceful, and an aide to supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei reportedly warned Iran would retaliate to any attack with a missile strike on Tel Aviv. |
| "If the enemy attacks Iran, our missiles will strike Tel Aviv," Mojhtaba Zolnoor was quoted as saying by the official Irna news agency. | |
| Further guarantees | Further guarantees |
| Brig Mighani told state media the aim of the exercises, which will cover an area of 600,000 sq km (230,000 sq miles), was "to display Iran's combat readiness and military potentials. | Brig Mighani told state media the aim of the exercises, which will cover an area of 600,000 sq km (230,000 sq miles), was "to display Iran's combat readiness and military potentials. |
| IRAN'S NUCLEAR SITES Iran insists that all its nuclear facilities are for energy, not military purposesBushehr: Nuclear power plantIsfahan: Uranium conversion plantNatanz: Uranium enrichment plant, 4,592 working centrifuges, with 3,716 more installedSecond enrichment plant: Existence revealed to IAEA in Sept 2009. Separate reports say it is near Qom, and not yet operationalArak: Heavy water plant Key nuclear sites in detail A high-stakes game Q&A: Iran and the nuclear issue | IRAN'S NUCLEAR SITES Iran insists that all its nuclear facilities are for energy, not military purposesBushehr: Nuclear power plantIsfahan: Uranium conversion plantNatanz: Uranium enrichment plant, 4,592 working centrifuges, with 3,716 more installedSecond enrichment plant: Existence revealed to IAEA in Sept 2009. Separate reports say it is near Qom, and not yet operationalArak: Heavy water plant Key nuclear sites in detail A high-stakes game Q&A: Iran and the nuclear issue |
| "Due to the threats against our nuclear facilities it is our duty to defend out nation's vital facilities," he said. | "Due to the threats against our nuclear facilities it is our duty to defend out nation's vital facilities," he said. |
| The exercises come as the UN Security Council's permanent members - Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States - plus Germany, urge Tehran to reconsider its rejection of a deal that would see some of its nuclear material being enriched outside Iran and returned as fuel rods. | The exercises come as the UN Security Council's permanent members - Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States - plus Germany, urge Tehran to reconsider its rejection of a deal that would see some of its nuclear material being enriched outside Iran and returned as fuel rods. |
| The deal - brokered by the UN's nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency - envisages Iran sending about 70% of its low-enriched uranium to Russia and France, where it would be processed into fuel rods for a research reactor in Tehran. | The deal - brokered by the UN's nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency - envisages Iran sending about 70% of its low-enriched uranium to Russia and France, where it would be processed into fuel rods for a research reactor in Tehran. |
| Such a process would prevent Iran enriching uranium to the degree necessary to make a bomb, the UN says. | Such a process would prevent Iran enriching uranium to the degree necessary to make a bomb, the UN says. |
| Iran has rejected a key part of the deal, seeking further guarantees. | Iran has rejected a key part of the deal, seeking further guarantees. |
| The UN Security Council has called on Iran to stop uranium enrichment and has approved three rounds of sanctions - covering trade in nuclear material, as well as financial and travel restrictions. | The UN Security Council has called on Iran to stop uranium enrichment and has approved three rounds of sanctions - covering trade in nuclear material, as well as financial and travel restrictions. |