Iran says boosts range on warplanes

(AFP)

Iran has upgraded its fighter jets to allow them to fly 3,000 kilometres without refuelling, Iran's air force commander said on Sunday, which would put arch-foe Israel easily within reach.

"We have succeeded in upgrading the capabilities of our planes and have increased the range of these planes to 3,000 kilometres (1,860 miles) without refuelling," Brigadier General Ahmad Mighani was quoted as saying by the ISNA news agency.

"We do not wish to attack another country... but we will defend ourselves should we be attacked," he added, without however mentioning Israel.

Israel, which views the Islamic republic as its greatest threat, lies about 1,000 kilometres (620 miles) from the Iranian border.

Iran's claims about its military capabilities are often greeted with scepticism by Western experts and Mighani gave no details about how the upgrade was achieved.

In June, Israel conducted war games that were seen as a dress rehearsal for an attack on Iranian nuclear facilities, which are the subject of an ongoing row with the West.

Israel, the region's sole if undeclared nuclear armed power, along with its staunch ally the United States, is leading the campaign against Iran's atomic drive, which they suspect is aimed at developing weapons.

Iran, which testfired a number of missiles in war games in July, denies the allegations and says its nuclear drive is only aimed at providing energy for its growing population.

Iran has said on several occasions that should it be attacked, it would strike Israel using its Shahab-3 missiles which it says has a range of 2,000 kilometres (1,240 miles).

Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak said last week that the United States is at present opposed to any military strike against Iranian nuclear facilities.