Iran said to show it could attack Israel

TABRIZ, Iran, Oct. 16 (UPI) -- Iranian military exercises near Iran's border with Turkey are intended to show Iran could attack Israel, a government TV channel reported Thursday.

The exercises near Tabriz -- with U.S. F-4, F-5 and F-14 jet fighters, along with Russian Sukhoi and Iranian Saegheh, or Thunderbolt, fighters -- include upgraded jets that "can fly to Israel and back without needing to refuel," Iran's English-language Press TV reported.

With more than 100 warplanes participating, the exercises seek to demonstrate Iran's "military offensive capabilities in the wake of escalating war threats against the Islamic Republic," Press TV said.

The Israeli military intelligence Web site DEBKAfile characterized the war games as intending to simulate an attack on Israel. In June, more than 100 Israeli fighter-bombers conducted air maneuvers over the Mediterranean and Aegean seas, midway between Israel and Iran.

DEBKAfile said Tehran's latest drill was a response to "speculation rife in the West that Israel may use the window between the U.S. election and the swearing-in of the new president in January for an attack on Iran's nuclear installations."

The International Atomic Energy Agency said in a report last month that Iran had improved its ability to produce enriched uranium but had not diverted any nuclear material for weapons purposes.

Iran insists its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes like generating electricity.