Iran Shows Off Underground Drone Base

Drones are seen at an underground site at an undisclosed location in Iran, in this handout image obtained on May 28, 2022. Iranian Army/WANA (West Asia News Agency)/Handout via REUTERS
Drones are seen at an underground site at an undisclosed location in Iran, in this handout image obtained on May 28, 2022. Iranian Army/WANA (West Asia News Agency)/Handout via REUTERS
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Iran Shows Off Underground Drone Base

Drones are seen at an underground site at an undisclosed location in Iran, in this handout image obtained on May 28, 2022. Iranian Army/WANA (West Asia News Agency)/Handout via REUTERS
Drones are seen at an underground site at an undisclosed location in Iran, in this handout image obtained on May 28, 2022. Iranian Army/WANA (West Asia News Agency)/Handout via REUTERS

The Iranian army has given some details - but not the exact location - of an underground base for its military drones, state media reported on Saturday.

State TV said 100 drones were being kept in the heart of the Zagros mountains, including Ababil-5, which it said were fitted with Qaem-9 missiles, an Iranian-made version of air-to-surface US Hellfire.

"No doubt the drones” of Iran's armed forces “are the region's most powerful," army commander Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi said. "Our capability to upgrade drones is unstoppable," he added.

The Iranian state TV correspondent said he had made the 45-minute helicopter flight on Thursday from Kermanshah in western Iran to a secret underground drone site. He was allowed to take blindfolds off only upon arrival at the base, he said.

TV footage showed rows of drones fitted with missiles in a tunnel, which it said was several hundred meters underground.



Kremlin Says US Has Not Responded to Its Nuclear Arms Control Offer

Russian President Vladimir Putin delivers his traditional televised New Year's Address to the people of Russia, in Moscow, Russia, 31 December 2025.  EPA/MIKHAIL METZEL/SPUTNIK/KREMLIN POOL
Russian President Vladimir Putin delivers his traditional televised New Year's Address to the people of Russia, in Moscow, Russia, 31 December 2025. EPA/MIKHAIL METZEL/SPUTNIK/KREMLIN POOL
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Kremlin Says US Has Not Responded to Its Nuclear Arms Control Offer

Russian President Vladimir Putin delivers his traditional televised New Year's Address to the people of Russia, in Moscow, Russia, 31 December 2025.  EPA/MIKHAIL METZEL/SPUTNIK/KREMLIN POOL
Russian President Vladimir Putin delivers his traditional televised New Year's Address to the people of Russia, in Moscow, Russia, 31 December 2025. EPA/MIKHAIL METZEL/SPUTNIK/KREMLIN POOL

The Kremlin said on Thursday that the United States had not responded to President Vladimir Putin's proposal to informally extend for ‌a year ‌the ‌provisions of ⁠the last ‌remaining nuclear arms pact between Moscow and Washington, the New START treaty, which is ⁠due to expire ‌in three weeks.

Kremlin spokesman ‍Dmitry ‍Peskov was responding ‍to a question about comments made by US President Donald Trump, who has said that he ⁠instead wants a more ambitious nuclear arms control treaty which includes China - something Beijing has so far shown no interest in.


German Air Traffic Control Advises Avoiding Iranian Airspace until Feb 10

Reuters file photo of an IranAir plane
Reuters file photo of an IranAir plane
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German Air Traffic Control Advises Avoiding Iranian Airspace until Feb 10

Reuters file photo of an IranAir plane
Reuters file photo of an IranAir plane

Germany's air traffic control authority said Thursday it was recommending planes avoid Iranian airspace after the United States has in recent days warned of a possible military intervention in Iran.

A spokesman for Germany's Flight Safety Office told AFP in a statement it had issued a recommendation "that Iranian airspace not be overflown... until February 10," adding that the advice had been issued "on the instruction of the transport ministry".


Türkiye Calls for Dialogue to Resolve Iran Unrest

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan speaks during an interview with Reuters at the 23rd edition of the annual Doha Forum, in Doha, Qatar, December 6, 2025. REUTERS/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan speaks during an interview with Reuters at the 23rd edition of the annual Doha Forum, in Doha, Qatar, December 6, 2025. REUTERS/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa
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Türkiye Calls for Dialogue to Resolve Iran Unrest

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan speaks during an interview with Reuters at the 23rd edition of the annual Doha Forum, in Doha, Qatar, December 6, 2025. REUTERS/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan speaks during an interview with Reuters at the 23rd edition of the annual Doha Forum, in Doha, Qatar, December 6, 2025. REUTERS/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa

Türkiye's top diplomat on Thursday called for dialogue to the crisis in Iran, rocked by mass protests which rights group say have left thousands dead and which prompted US warnings to Tehran.

"We absolutely want problems to be resolved through dialogue," Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan told journalists in Istanbul.

"Hopefully, the United States and Iran will resolve this issue among themselves -- whether through mediators, other actors, or direct dialogue. We are closely following these developments."