Iran launches aerial defense drill
Preparing for strike on nuke sites? Tehran embarks on four-day drill that will include anti-aircraft fire; Iranian official threatens to push oil prices to $150 a barrel
Iran announced Monday that its aerial defense forces have embarked on a drill meant to contend with the threats to strike the country's nuclear facilities.
Iranian news agency Fares reported that the drill started in the Bushehr region, where one of Iran's nuclear reactors is located. According to the report, aerial defense forces embarked on "tactical maneuvers in order to boost preparedness for coping with possible threats on the homeland, and especially on its vital and sensitive nuclear centers."
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The drill will last four days and is expected to include the launching of anti-aircraft missiles.
Meanwhile, the director general of Iran's national oil company warned Monday that should the European Union uphold its decision to impose an oil embargo on Iran starting July, Tehran will stop exporting oil to six European countries even before that.
Iran stopped its oil exports to Britain and France already, but Ahmad Qalebani said Tehran may also put an end to its oil sales to Greece, Spain, Italy, Germany, Holland and Portugal, the Maher news agency reported.
"The exportation to these states will end should the hostile steps by some European states continue," he said. "There's a possibility that the price of oil will reach $150."
Oil prices rose to above $121 Sunday after Iran announced that it is halting its oil exports to France and Britain. French officials said the Iranian decision had no significance as Paris stopped exporting oil from Iran last year already.
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