The Iranian Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) navy has new cruise missiles equipped with highly explosive warheads that are undetectable, the semi-official Tasnim news agency reported on Friday.
"A large number of cruise missiles have been added to the Guards' navy fleet. These new missiles have capabilities of highly explosive warheads that are undetectable and can cause extensive damage and sink their targets," Tasnim said.
Regional tensions have increased following the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh by a presumed Israeli strike in Tehran a day after an Israeli strike in Beirut killed Fuad Shukr, a senior military commander from Lebanon’s Hezbollah.
Iran has vowed to avenge the July 31 explosion that killed Haniyeh, which was widely blamed on Israel, raising fears of a regional war. Israel has not said whether it was involved.
Hezbollah has also vowed to retaliate against Israel for the strike that killed Shukr in Beirut “no matter the consequences."
"In today's world you either have to be powerful to survive, or surrender. There's no middle ground," said the Guards' top commander, Major-General Hossein Salami.
The Guards' navy also said in a statement that various types of long and medium range missile systems, as well as reconnaissance drones and naval radars, have been added to its fleet.
"These systems are among the most up-to-date anti-surface and sub-surface weapons in the Guards' navy," it said.
State television displayed several of the weapons on Friday. The navy added that only 210 of the 2,654 systems were shown as it was not possible to unveil other strategic ones for security reasons.
