An F-14A Tomcat of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s Air Force. Photo: Wikipedia.

The General Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces said the country’s defense doctrine and strategies are focused on responding to aerial threats, the regime-aligned Tasnim News Agency reported on Monday.

In a statement issued on the occasion of the country’s Air Defense Day, the General Staff claimed that the Air Defense branch’s “updated equipment and skilled experts” have boosted Iran’s aerial defense prowess and have raised its deterrence to the point where Iran’s enemies would find it challenging to strike Iran from the air.

The statement comes in the wake of Iran’s unveiling on Saturday of a number of locally developed air defense systems, including upgraded radar and electronic warfare equipment, and in light of reports that, despite hurdles in the acquisition process, Russia will be delivering its advanced S-300 aerial defense missile system to the Islamic Republic by the end of this year.

In addition, Brigadier General Farzad Esmaili, the commander of the Iranian army’s Air Defense branch, announced that his forces would be conducting a drill in the fall, to practice aerial combat.

His comments appear to have been intended as a message to Israel, which is said to be contemplating a potential preemptive military strike against Iran’s nuclear facilities.

Since the two countries do not share a border, any Israeli military move would have to be carried out from the air.