TEHRAN (Thomson Financial) - 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.
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