Iran Inaugurates First-Ever Drone Carrier Warship In Arabian Gulf
Iran on Thursday unveiled and inaugurated its first ever drone-carrier warship, which features a 180-meter long runway for UAVS, and which is capable of carry several helicopters.
Manned by the elite paramilitary Revolutionary Guard's navy (IRGC), the vessel is dubbed Shahid Bagheri, and is further capable of launching cruise missiles.
Iran's military and media is touting that the ship is able to travel 'independently' across the globe's oceans for up to one year, and it can go up to 22,000 nautical miles without needing to refuel in ports.
The vessel began its life as a commercial ship, and was overhauled and completely re-outfitted for as a drone carrier.
'The Revolutionary Guards took action to transform a commercial ship… into a mobile naval platform capable of carrying out drone and helicopter missions in the oceans,' said Navy Commander of the Revolutionary Guards Alireza Tangsiri.
'The addition of this ship to our fleet is an important step in increasing the defense and deterrence capability of Iran in distant waters and in maintaining our national security interests,' Tangsiri added.
State IRNA has touted that the carrier has a capacity of carrying 60 drones. A state TV broadcast unveiling the Shahid Bagheri showed at least four helicopters and three UAVs on the warship's runway at the time of the footage.
Tehran officials are further hailing it as the 'largest naval military project' in the history of the Islamic Republic.
Click here to read more…
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Tribune
02-05-2025
- Daily Tribune
Iran Appeals to Trump's Deal-Maker Persona in Bid for New Nuclear Agreement
Iran is working to repackage its ongoing nuclear negotiations with the United States as a strategic business opportunity that appeals directly to U.S. President Donald Trump's self-styled image as a "dealmaker-in-chief." By positioning diplomacy over conflict, Iranian officials are making a pitch they hope will resonate with Trump's economic priorities and anti-war stance. At the heart of Iran's messaging is the idea that avoiding war and instead striking a deal with Tehran could unlock substantial economic gains for the United States — a message clearly tailored to Trump's 'Make America Rich Again' rhetoric. In a recent opinion article in The Washington Post, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi emphasized that Iran is open for global business, stating that 'it is the US administrations and congressional impediments, not Iran,' that have kept American companies from accessing its vast market. He framed Iran's economy — valued at $1.7 trillion in Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) terms — as an untapped opportunity that could benefit U.S. firms. Analysts believe Tehran is strategically appealing to Trump's transactional worldview. 'They see that Trump wants to be a kind of dealmaker,' said Esfandyar Batmanghelidj, CEO of the Bourse & Bazaar Foundation. 'They're clearly understanding that Trump wants agreements that he can position as a win for the US economy.' Negotiations between the two countries have already seen three rounds of mostly indirect talks, with Oman mediating. The most recent discussions included technical deliberations, and both sides have expressed cautious optimism about progress. Trump has long criticized the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, brokered under the Obama administration, as deeply flawed and too lenient. After unilaterally withdrawing from the deal in 2018, the Trump administration reimposed sweeping sanctions on Iran, discouraging foreign businesses and locking American firms out almost entirely. Iran now appears to be offering Trump a way to renegotiate on his own terms — a chance to frame a new agreement as both tougher and more profitable. Araghchi even hinted that Iran's plans to build at least 19 additional nuclear reactors could mean 'tens of billions of dollars in potential contracts,' potentially revitalizing the struggling U.S. nuclear sector. Yet any U.S.-Iran economic partnership would face steep regulatory hurdles. American companies are still barred by "primary sanctions" from trading with Iran. Even if nuclear-related sanctions are lifted, 'terrorism' sanctions, due to Iran's designation as a state sponsor of terrorism and the IRGC's dominance in its economy, would remain in place. Doing business in sectors tied to the IRGC — which includes banking, telecoms, construction, and oil — would still require case-by-case U.S. Treasury licenses. Iran's business landscape is further complicated by the IRGC's increasing control over its economy, a consequence of decades of sanctions, war, and the country's pivot toward a 'resistance economy' — self-reliance over foreign dependence. Experts warn that despite its size and potential, Iran remains a high-risk market. Corruption, unclear regulatory frameworks, and geopolitical instability deter even the most ambitious investors. Still, past ventures like Boeing's $16 billion aircraft deal with Iran Air — later scrapped by Trump's administration — highlight the scale of opportunity. According to Bijan Khajehpour, managing partner at Eurasian Nexus Partners, sectors beyond oil — such as mining, digital technology, and consumer goods — offer growth potential. Iran's youthful and educated population of over 90 million is also an attractive draw for global companies. Batmanghelidj suggested that American businesses could reenter the Iranian market through Gulf Arab states, which now show more support for a deal and serve as regional hubs for many U.S. firms. However, the road forward hinges on one major factor: trust. The abrupt collapse of the 2015 deal has left both sides wary of long-term commitments. 'Despite all of the baggage we have over the 2015 nuclear deal falling apart, there are a lot more tools that could be used to find ways of structuring a win-win,' Batmanghelidj said. 'If both sides are serious, there's a deal to be made — and a market that's ready.'
Gulf Insider
29-04-2025
- Gulf Insider
Iran Says Port Blast Was 'Negligence' Amid Reports
As of Monday an Iranian official in Bandar Abbas has said that the major Iranian port fire is 90% extinguished, which means emergency crews have been battling the blaze for over 40 hours. The death toll has since risen to at least 46 amid the ongoing emergency. Over 1,000 injuries have been reported. The massive, deadly explosion which shocked Iran two days prior is the largest at an Iranian commercial port. The resulting fire ball, partly the result of missile fuel reportedly having detonated, was so large that there was initial widespread speculation that the Israelis were behind it. Certainly it wouldn't have been the first Israeli sabotage attack against vital Iranian infrastructure in recent history. And so it is somewhat of a surprise that the Iranians on Monday have not alleged any kind of external sabotage or interference, but are instead calling it an accident due to negligence Iran's Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni described the blast at the nation's largest commercial port two days earlier as caused by 'negligence' and failure to comply with established safety measures. There is an ongoing investigation. 'Some culprits have been identified and summoned… There were shortcomings, including noncompliance with safety precautions and negligence in terms of passive defense,' Momeni told state TV. He suggested that some materials should not have been kept at the port. Drone closeup footage from aftermath of Iran port blast released by an IRGC linked outlet. — Khosro K Isfahani (@KhosroIsfahani) April 28, 2025 According to The NY Times, a volatile component was improperly stored: A person with ties to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said that what exploded was sodium perchlorate, a major ingredient in solid fuel for missiles. The person spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss security matters. The state-run Islamic Republic News Agency quoted an official as saying the explosion was likely set off by containers of chemicals, but did not identify the chemicals. What caused them to detonate was not clear, but the Iranian authorities did not suggest it was sabotage or a deliberate attack. Click here to read more Also read: Iran Port Explosion: At Least Five Killed, More Than 500 Injured In Major Blast
Daily Tribune
17-04-2025
- Daily Tribune
Iran FM says uranium enrichment ‘non-negotiable'
Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said yesterday that Iran's enrichment of uranium as part of its nuclear programme was 'non-negotiable' after US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff called for a halt. 'Iran's enrichment is a real, accepted matter. We are ready to build confidence in response to possible concerns, but the issue of enrichment is non-negotiable,' Araghchi told reporters after a cabinet meeting. The remarks came as Araghchi and Witkoff are due to meet again in Oman on Saturday, a week after they held the highest-level talks between the longtime foes since US President Donald Trump abandoned a landmark nuclear deal in 2018. Trump reimposed sweeping sanctions in a policy of 'maximum pressure' against Tehran that he has reinstated since returning to office in January. In March, he sent a letter to Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei urging talks but warning of possible military action if they fail to produce a deal. Both sides described Saturday's meeting as 'constructive'. But on Tuesday, Witkoff said Iran must 'stop and eliminate' its enrichment of uranium as part of any nuclear deal. He had previously demanded only that Iran return to the 3.67 percent enrichment ceiling set by the 2015 accord between Iran and major powers that Trump withdrew from. 'Contradictory' Araghchi condemned what he called the 'contradictory and conflicting positions' coming out of the Trump administration ahead of Saturday's talks. 'We will find out the true opinions of the Americans during the negotiation session,' he said. Iran's top diplomat said he hoped to start negotiations on the framework of a possible agreement but said that required 'constructive positions' from the United States. 'If we continue to (hear) contradictory and conflicting positions, we are going to have problems,' he warned. Araghchi is set to head to Iranian ally Russia on Thursday, Iran's ambassador in Moscow Kazem Jalili said. Iran has said the visit was 'preplanned' but will include discussions on the Iran-US talks. 'The objective of (my) trip to Russia is to convey a written message from the supreme leader' to Russian President Vladimir Putin, Araghchi said. In readiness for the US talks, Iran has engaged with Russia and China, which were both parties to the 2015 deal. Ahead of Saturday's second round of talks in Muscat, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said he hoped a deal could be reached with the United States, the official IRNA news agency reported. On Tuesday, Khamenei cautioned that while the talks have proceeded well in their early stages, they could still prove fruitless. 'The negotiations may or may not yield results,' he said, noting that Iran had already outlined its 'red lines'. Iran's Revolutionary Guards have said the country's military capabilities are off-limits in the talks. Late on Sunday, IRNA said Iran's regional influence and its missile capabilities -- both sources of concern for Western governments -- were also among its 'red lines'. The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Rafael Grossi was due in Iran later Wednesday for talks with senior officials. The UN watchdog was tasked with overseeing Iran's compliance with the 2015 nulear deal.
