The Iranian military on Friday kicked off the first step of a four-day air
defense drill state-run IRNA reported.
Air force and Islamic
Revolutionary Guard Corps units were reportedly participating in the military
exercise in eastern Iran.
RELATED:
'IAEA' report threatens lives of Iranian scientistsMeanwhile, a senior Iranian official responded to a International Atomic Energy
Agency
resolution voicing growing concern about his country’s nuclear work,
saying it would only strengthen Tehran’s determination to press on with its
disputed activities.
“The only immediate effect is a further
strengthening of determination of the Iranian nation to continue its nuclear
activities for peaceful purposes without any compromise,” said Ali Asghar
Soltanieh, ambassador to the IAEA.
“We will not suspend our enrichment
activities and our work for even a second,” he told reporters.
He was
speaking after the 35-nation IAEA board adopted a resolution voicing “increasing
concern” about Iran's nuclear program, keeping up pressure on Tehran after a
recent IAEA report said it appeared to have worked on designing an atom
bomb.
Soltanieh also cast doubt on whether the IAEA could send a
high-level mission to Iran to address concerns about its nuclear program. IAEA
director-general Yukiya Amano said on Thursday he had proposed the trip and was
awaiting a response.
“The mission cannot go now to Iran. But when and
how, it should be thoroughly studied. Because now in fact everything is messed
up by the director-general’s decision,” Soltanieh said, referring to the IAEA’s
report.
Last week’s report presented intelligence indicating Iran has
undertaken research and experiments geared to developing a nuclear weapons
capability. It has stoked tensions in the Middle East and redoubled calls in
Western capitals for stiffer sanctions against Tehran.