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TEHRAN, Iran — Iran has recently unveiled its inaugural drone-carrying warship, which officials claim can operate in maritime regions far from the country’s shores, as stated by the IRNA news agency on Thursday.
The newly launched vessel, operated by the naval force of the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, boasts the capability of transporting multiple squadrons of drones, helicopters, and cruise missiles. Named Shahid Bagheri, the ship is reported to feature launch capabilities for cruise missiles as well.
According to reports, the warship is outfitted with a runway measuring 180 meters for drone operations and can voyage up to 22,000 nautical miles without requiring refueling stops at ports. The vessel was adapted from a commercial ship and is expected to bolster Iran’s deterrence strategy.
State television broadcast footage during the ship’s inauguration, showing at least four helicopters and three drones positioned on the warship’s runway.
During the ceremony, General Hossein Salami, the chief of the Revolutionary Guard, indicated that the warship could operate “independently” in maritime areas for periods of up to one year. He emphasized the importance of enhancing Iran’s deterrence capabilities to avert conflict, reiterating that the nation does not intend to engage in warfare against any country.
“We do not consider Iran a threat to any nation, yet we will not submit to threats from any power,” Salami declared.
According to Admiral Ali Reza Tangsiri, the head of the Guard’s navy, the transformation of the commercial vessel into a warship took over two years to complete. The ship is also said to include facilities such as a hospital and a gym for crew members.
Iran has consistently expressed its ambition to expand its maritime presence globally. Since the initiation of a military self-sufficiency initiative in 1992, the country claims to have produced its own submarines, fighter jets, and military tanks, signifying a determination to enhance its defense capabilities.