Iran Army Gets 200 New 'Strategic' Drones

Minister of Defense, Commander of the Iranian Army, Commander of the Air Force and Commander of Air Defense during the inauguration of the drones in an unknown location (AP)
Minister of Defense, Commander of the Iranian Army, Commander of the Air Force and Commander of Air Defense during the inauguration of the drones in an unknown location (AP)
TT
20

Iran Army Gets 200 New 'Strategic' Drones

Minister of Defense, Commander of the Iranian Army, Commander of the Air Force and Commander of Air Defense during the inauguration of the drones in an unknown location (AP)
Minister of Defense, Commander of the Iranian Army, Commander of the Air Force and Commander of Air Defense during the inauguration of the drones in an unknown location (AP)

Iran's defense ministry has delivered the army with more than 200 new drones equipped with missile capabilities and electronic warfare systems, state media reported on Thursday.

In a ceremony broadcast on television, Defense Minister Mohammad-Reza Ashtiani handed over "more than 200 long-range strategic drones" to army chief Abdolrahim Mousavi, the official news agency IRNA said.

Produced by the Iranian defence ministry, the drones are designed for reconnaissance and strike missions, and can carry air-to-air and air-to-surface missiles, IRNA said.

The UAVs were received by the Iranian Army as part of a deal with the Defense Ministry to enhance the country’s combat readiness.

In this regard, Defense Minister Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Gharaei Ashtiani said that "Iran will continue to enhance its drone capabilities."

"He said that assessment of combat scenes brought the Defense Ministry to the conclusion that drones play a key role in the battles. Therefore, he added, measures to design and manufacture different types of drones for delivery to the Iranian Army were taken in the past years," he noted, IRNA reported.



Iran's Top Security Body to Decide on Hormuz Closure after Parliament Approval

A general view of the Strait of Hormuz (Reuters)
A general view of the Strait of Hormuz (Reuters)
TT
20

Iran's Top Security Body to Decide on Hormuz Closure after Parliament Approval

A general view of the Strait of Hormuz (Reuters)
A general view of the Strait of Hormuz (Reuters)

Iran's Supreme National Security Council must make the final decision on whether to close the Strait of Hormuz, Iran's Press TV said on Sunday, after parliament reportedly approved the measure, Reuters reported.

The decision to close the strait, through which around 20% of global oil and gas demand flows, is not yet final. But lawmaker and Revolutionary Guards Commander Esmail Kosari told the Young Journalist Club on Sunday that doing so is on the agenda and "will be done whenever necessary."

Meanwhile, Maersk vessels continue to sail through the Strait of Hormuz but the company was ready to re-evaluate this based on available information, the group said in a statement on Sunday, following US strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities overnight.
"We will continuously monitor the security risk to our specific vessels in the region and are ready to take operational actions as needed," the Danish container shipping company said.