Iran army gets 200 new ‘strategic’ drones: Report
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Hashim Sheikh
- . April 21, 2023
- . Update: April 21, 2023 3:57 pm
The army of the Islamic Republic of Iran got over 200 new ‘strategic’ drones equipped with missile capabilities and electronic warfare systems, according to Iran’s media.
The defence ministry of Iran delivered the drones to the army. Iranian state media said on Thursday that Mohammad-Reza Ashtiani, Minister of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics of Iran, gave over 200 long-range strategic drones to Abdolrahim Mousavi, Commander-in-Chief of the Islamic Republic of Iran Army.
A ceremony was held to transfer drones to the Iranian military officer, the official news agency IRNA said. The private ceremony was also shown on television.
The new drones are produced by the Iranian defence ministry. According to IRNA, it is designed for reconnaissance and strike missions. The drones have the capability to carry air-to-air and air-to-surface missiles.
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In recent months, the United States and the European Union have accused Iran of supplying unmanned aerial vehicles to Russia to use in the Ukraine war. The EU and the US have also imposed sanctions on Iran over its drone program. However, Tehran has always denied those allegations.
In October 2022, the Foreign Minister of Ukraine, Dmytro Kuleba, called for more sanctions on Iran after Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, was hit by swarms of kamikaze drones, which were allegedly supplied to Russia. The EU further said that Iranian authorities were responsible for the “murders of Ukrainians.”
Denmark’s Foreign Minister Jeppe Kofod slammed Iran after drones and missiles were used to target cities across Ukraine. The Ukrainian defence ministry said, “The Ukrainian military shot down 37 Iranian Shahed-136 drones and three cruise missiles launched by Russian terrorists.”
In December 2022, the EU imposed new sanctions on Iran over its crackdown on anti-government and anti-hijab protests. The Ministers of the EU imposed sanctions on religious leaders and senior leaders of Iran.
