Iran unveils first ships and submarines capable of deploying armed drones as President Biden tours the Middle East
- ‘First drone-carrier division of Iranian navy has been unveiled’, navy proclaims
- Ships and submarines will be able to deploy missile-equipped remote weapons
- Commander: ‘If enemies make a mistake, they will [face] a regrettable response’
- It comes as Biden visited Israel and unveiled ‘Iron Beam’ laser defence system
Iran’s navy on Friday unveiled its first division of ships and submarines capable of carrying armed drones, as US President Joe Biden tours the Middle East.
The United States and Israel, the sworn enemies of Iran, have previously accused the Islamic republic of using drones and missiles to attack US forces and Israel-linked ships in the Gulf.
‘The first drone-carrier division of the Iranian navy consisting of ships and submarine units carrying all types of drone for combat, detection and destruction has been unveiled,’ state television said.
‘All types of the latest advanced drones produced by the military and the defence ministry have flown over the Indian Ocean’s waters to demonstrate their capabilities,’ it added, showing images of drones taking off from a naval vessel.
The Iranian Army released images of the drone-carrying submarines and ships at sea today
Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) will be launched from the newly built vessels, Iran stated
Commander Mousavi said: ‘As we are aware of the aggressive attitude in the (United States’) system of domination, it is necessary to increase our defensive capabilities day-to-day’
The announcement comes as Biden undertakes his first presidential visit to Israel, where he and the Jewish state’s caretaker Prime Minister Yair Lapid on Thursday signed a security pact reinforcing their common front against Iran.
Biden’s trip also included a presentation of Israel’s ‘Iron Beam’ air defence system, which uses lasers to intercept drones and missiles.
‘As we are aware of the aggressive attitude in the (United States’) system of domination, it is necessary to increase our defensive capabilities day-by-day,’ Iranian army commander Abdolrahim Mousavi said on television.
‘If the enemies make a mistake, (these drones) will present them with a regrettable response,’ he warned during the unveiling.
Iran’s arms programme has prompted fears the Islamic Republic will build nuclear weapons
An important ally of Russia in the Middle East, Iran trialled its new ships in the Indian Ocean
Commander Mousavi (pictured saluting) vowed enemies will face a ‘regrettable response’
In October 2021, the United States imposed sanctions targeting Iran’s drone programme, accusing it of supplying the technology to its allies in the region, such as Lebanon’s Hezbollah, the Huthis of Yemen and the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan on Monday said Iran plans to deliver ‘hundreds of drones’ to Russia to aid its war on Ukraine.
On Friday, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian dismissed Sullivan’s accusations as ‘baseless’, during a telephone conversation with his Ukrainian counterpart, Dmytro Kuleba.
Iran began developing its drone programme in the 1980s during the Iran-Iraq war.
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Officers were pictured launching the armed drones with remote controls from a submarine
The news came as President Biden unveiled laser defence system Iron Beam (pictured, background) alongside defence minister Benny Gantz (left) and PM Yair Lapid (right)
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