Iran showcased its military prowess on the anniversary of the 1980s war with Iraq, flaunting a range of advanced weaponry, including what they claimed to be “the world’s longest-range drone.”
Iranian state media reported this event, highlighting the unveiling of this drone during a live broadcast parade. The drones exhibited were named Mohajer, Shahed, and Arash.
Iran had previously announced the development of an advanced drone called Mohajer-10, boasting enhanced flight capabilities, an extended operational range of 2,000 kilometers (1,240 miles), a flight duration of up to 24 hours, and an impressive payload capacity of 300 kilograms (661 pounds).
This marked a significant improvement over the Mohajer-6 drone, which had a payload capacity half the size of its successor.
The United States had accused Iran of supplying Mohajer-6 drones and other unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to Russia for their involvement in the conflict in Ukraine.
In response, the U.S. imposed additional sanctions related to Iran, specifically targeting its drone and military aircraft development programs.
These sanctions also extended to individuals and entities in Iran, Russia, China, and Turkey.
Despite these allegations, Iran firmly denied providing drones to Russia for the Ukrainian conflict.
President Ebrahim Raisi, speaking at the parade in Tehran, emphasized that Iran’s forces play a crucial role in ensuring security in the region and the Persian Gulf.
He reiterated the importance of resistance as a means to deter the enemy, emphasizing that it is resistance, not submission or wavering, that forces adversaries to retreat.
In a symbolic gesture directed at Iran’s regional rival, Israel, Iranian media had previously released a video featuring the Mohajer-6 drone alongside other military hardware.
The video included a message in both Persian and Hebrew, stating “prepare your shelters.”
The Iran-Iraq war, which commenced on September 22, 1980, when Iraq, under President Saddam Hussein, invaded Iran, resulted in an economically devastating conflict that claimed the lives of at least half a million people.
The war ultimately ended in a stalemate in August 1988. Iran’s display of military hardware on this anniversary serves as a reminder of its commitment to maintaining regional security and sovereignty.
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