Updated: Sat Nov. 21 2009 10:05:54

The Associated Press

TEHRAN, Iran — Iranian state TV is reporting that the country will begin large-scale air defence war games Sunday aimed at protecting nuclear facilities against any possible attack.

Gen. Ahmad Mighani, who heads an air force unit dealing with threats to Iran's air space, says the war games will cover regions where Iran's nuclear facilities are located, according to the report.

The official IRNA news agency says the drill will cover 600,000 square kilometres in central, western and southern Iran.

The U.S. accuses Iran of embarking on a nuclear weapons program. Iran denies that and insists the program is only for peaceful purposes.

Israel has warned it may take military action to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons.