By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News
TEHRAN (Worthy News) – Iran has defied sanctions by unveiling the Shahid Bagheri, the nation’s first drone-carrier warship, officials say.
In comments monitored by Worthy News on Saturday, the Islamic Republic News Agency said the vessel comes equipped with a 180-meter (590 feet) runway for the “hundreds” of drones it will carry.
The ship can also hold helicopters and fire cruise missiles, Worthy News learned.
Iran claims the ship can travel around the world up to 22,000 nautical miles (40,744 kilometers) without refueling.
At the unveiling ceremony, General Hossein Salami said the ship could travel “independently” for up to a year, significantly improving Iran’s naval capabilities.
Iranian Rear Admiral Alireza Tangsiri stressed that the ship was converted from a commercial vessel, a process that took two years.
He noted that the ship contains numerous nonmilitary facilities, including exercise space and medical facilities.
Major General Mohammad Baqeri said the ship constitutes “a major step forward” for Iranian naval manufacturing, adding that most of Iran’s military technology is produced domestically.
The unveiling of the ship was adding to tensions in the Middle East. While Israel remains on alert for possible Iranian attacks, the West and war-torn Ukraine are concerned about thousands of drones delivered by Tehran to Russia.
Moscow launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and has been backed up militarily by countries such as Iran and North Korea, while Belarus allowed its territory to be used for Russian operations.
Copyright 1999-2025 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.
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