Iran launches 4-day war gamesNovember 19, 2011 - 11:39 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Iran says it has begun a four-day air defense military exercise aimed at upgrading its ability to protect its airspace and its nuclear facilities in case of an attack. According to AP, the official IRNA news agency said the drills involve the elite Revolutionary Guard as well as Iran's regular army in an area covering 800,000 kilometers in eastern Iran, near the Afghan border. The war games began Saturday, November 19, morning. The war games are taking place amid escalating tensions between Iran and the West over Iran's disputed nuclear program. Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak has hinted that Israel may take military action. Iran denies that it is developing nuclear weapons. Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | Putin congratulates Pashinyan’s birthday Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on his birthday on June 1. Opposition motorcade en route to Gyumri for large rally A motorcade of protesters headed by Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan is heading to the city of Gyumri. Ruling MPs, Foreign Minister talk Armenia-Azerbaijan processes MOs from the ruling Civil Contract party met with the Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan in the Armenian parliament. Russia: Armenia’s frozen membership weakens CSTO position in Caucasus A Russian envoy said any step that could alienate the CSTO member states from each other is “deeply wrong”. |