Iran said on Sunday it had developed weapons systems to intercept stealth cruise missiles, state-run Press TV reported.

Israel and the United States have not ruled out possible military action if diplomatic efforts fail to curb an Iranian nuclear programme the West suspects could yield atomic weapons.

Iran insists it seeks only to generate electrical power.

"The Iranian air force has managed to build tens of anti-aircraft batteries and missile systems in addition to sophisticated radar systems," said General Ahmad Miqani, an air defence commander, quoted by Iran's English-language satellite news network.

"Today, the military is able to both detect stealth cruise missiles and destroy them," the television quoted Miqani as saying. He gave no further details.

Cruise missiles are designed to fly low to their targets, hugging the contours of the land to avoid radar. - Reuters