Current Iranian military exercises: an actual training exercise or attempt to distract from protests

Today the Iranian air force will be conducting a training exercise. Given the world's attention to the current unrest on Iran's streets, one has to ask if this exercise is a actual training event for the Iranian Air force or a snap attempt by the Iranian leadership to distract media attention. Here is some background on today's exercise: http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1245184889534&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

The one thing that is troubling about this exercise is some of the specific training events the Air Force will be conducting. Low level and long range training are not easy flight profiles to master. One needs to think about what the purpose such training would accomplish. If this was a snap exercise announced by the national leadership to distract attention from the street protests then why give specific information on what training will be practiced? Just announcing that the exercise will be conducted today would be enough of a story for the global media to talk about instead of the unrest.