Press TV- The chairman of the Chiefs of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces says Iran�s skies are among the safest in the region.

�We can assure [all] that our country has a safe airspace... one of the safest in the turbulent Southwest Asia region,� Major General Mohammad Baqeri said on Saturday on the sidelines of an exhibition showcasing the achievements of the�Khatam�al-Anbiya�Air Defense Base.

�That [safety],� he said, �has resulted in many flights� rerouting to Iranian skies and using our airspace, which is a source of great pride for the country.�

Major General Baqeri also said that air defense had been the top priority of the Iranian Armed Forces over the past years.

He said aerial and missile attacks remained likelihoods � however distant � and warranted the attention to air defense.

The Iranian commander said that Iran was not behind other countries in terms of air defense capabilities.

In recent years, Iran has upgraded its military capabilities, including its air defense system, through deploying both indigenous and foreign weapons systems.

The Islamic Republic practices a military doctrine of deterrence.