Iran showcased a new ballistic missile and an enhanced attack drone during a military parade on Saturday, state media reported, amid rising regional tensions and accusations of supplying arms to Russia. Western governments have accused Iran of providing drones and missiles to Russia for its war in Ukraine, allegations that Tehran has consistently denied.
The solid-fuel Jihad missile, developed by the aerospace division of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, has a range of 1,000 kilometers (over 600 miles), according to state news agency IRNA. Additionally, the upgraded Shahed-136B drone now boasts a range exceeding 4,000 kilometers (2,500 miles), marking a significant improvement over its predecessor, the Shahed-136.
Newly-elected President Masoud Pezeshkian attended the annual parade in Tehran, held to mark the 1980-88 war with Saddam Hussein’s Iraq. “Today, our defensive and deterrent capabilities have grown so strong that no adversary dares to think of aggression against our beloved Iran,” Pezeshkian declared. He further emphasized the importance of unity among Islamic nations, claiming they could challenge Israel, which he described as a “bloodthirsty, genocidal usurper,” accusing it of indiscriminately targeting civilians.
Tensions in the Middle East have escalated since Iran-backed Hamas launched an attack on Israel on October 7, triggering a war in Gaza and drawing in Iran-aligned groups across the region. In recent days, hostilities have intensified along the Lebanon-Israel border, where Israeli forces have clashed with Hezbollah, an Iran-backed militant group.
An Israeli airstrike in Hezbollah’s Beirut stronghold killed 16 members of its elite Radwan Force on Friday, according to a source close to the group. This followed a series of sabotage attacks earlier in the week, targeting Hezbollah’s communication infrastructure.
Earlier this month, Britain, France, Germany, and the United States imposed new sanctions on Iran, accusing it of supplying ballistic missiles to Russia for its war in Ukraine.
