Tehran: Iran unveiled a new ballistic missile and an upgraded attack drone during a military parade on Saturday, according to state media reports. This development comes amid escalating regional tensions and accusations that Iran has been supplying Russia with drones and missiles, a claim that Iran continues to deny.
The newly introduced Jihad missile is a solid-fuel weapon, developed by the aerospace division of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards. It reportedly has an operational range of 1,000 kilometers (more than 600 miles), as detailed by IRNA, the official state news agency. Alongside this, the Shahed-136B drone, an enhanced version of the Shahed-136, was also revealed. It features advanced capabilities, including an extended operational range of over 4,000 kilometers (2,500 miles).
Earlier this month, the United States, United Kingdom, France, and Germany imposed additional sanctions on Iran, citing concerns over Iran’s alleged provision of ballistic missiles to support Russia’s military efforts in Ukraine.
Masoud Pezeshkian, Iran’s newly elected president, attended the annual parade in Tehran, which marks the anniversary of the 1980–88 war with Saddam Hussein’s Iraq. Speaking at the event, Pezeshkian said, “Today, our defensive and deterrent capabilities have grown so much that no demon even thinks about any aggression towards our dear Iran.”
Pezeshkian also addressed the audience on Iran’s stance towards Israel, stating, “With unity and cohesion among Islamic countries… we can put in its place the bloodthirsty, genocidal usurper Israel, which shows no mercy to anyone, women or children, old or young.”
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Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, speaking to Muslim clerics at an annual gathering hosted by Iran, echoed this sentiment. He called on Islamic countries to sever economic and political ties with Israel, stating, “This inner strength can eliminate the Zionist regime, this malignant cancerous tumour, from the heart of the Islamic community in Palestine and get rid of US domination and coercive interference in the region.”
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Tensions in the Middle East have intensified recently following an Israeli military strike on Hezbollah’s stronghold in Beirut. The attack, which resulted in 31 casualties, including two senior Hezbollah commanders, came on the heels of sabotage operations targeting Hezbollah’s communication infrastructure earlier in the week, according to Lebanese authorities.
