Iran's Revolutionary Guard unveiled on Saturday a new ballistic missile and drone during its annual military parade commemorating the Iran-Iraq War, attended by President Masoud Pezeshkian.
Units from the regular army and the Revolutionary Guard showcased various military equipment, including 23 ballistic missiles, on a highway near the grave of the first Iranian Supreme Leader, south of Tehran. The display also featured naval vessels from both the Iranian army and the IRGC in the Strait of Hormuz.
Iranian news agencies reported that the suicide drone, "Shahed-136B," is the latest version of the "Shahed-136" manufactured by the IRGC. Additionally, the Guard's missile unit revealed the "Jihad" missile, which uses liquid fuel and has an operational range of 1,000 kilometers, equipped with a highly explosive warhead, according to the Tasnim news agency.
The agency added that trucks carried 23 ballistic missiles during the annual military parade, which is the most significant promotional event for the IRGC, commemorating what Iran calls the "Sacred Defense Week." This term refers to the 1980s war between neighboring countries Iran and Iraq.
For the first time since his election, Pezeshkian sat among senior leaders of the Revolutionary Guard and the Iranian army, defending the expansion of the country's military arsenal and what he referred to as its "deterrent power."
In a speech broadcast on state television, the Iranian president stated: "No malicious power dares to attack our land thanks to our deterrent strength, and we appreciate our armed forces." He claimed that Iran "no longer needs anyone to arm it."
He continued: “Today, Iran's defensive power and deterrence capabilities have reached a level that does not allow any enemy to even think about attacking our territory.”
Pezeshkian also delivered a regional message, stating: "We can maintain peace and security in our region through unity and harmony among Islamic countries."
