Iran's Tasnim news agency reported on 29/1 that these strategic unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) were developed by military engineers. Their design draws from experiences gained during the "12-day war" with Israel and the United States in 6/2025, aimed at countering growing threats.

The 1,000 combat UAVs have been delivered to combat units across Iran's four military branches. While the announcement did not detail the capabilities of these weapons, Iran is believed to possess advanced UAV manufacturing technology, which it has previously supplied to Russia for the conflict in Ukraine.

On the same day, Iranian state television quoted Army Commander-in-Chief Amir Hatami, who warned that the military stands ready to respond forcefully to any attack against the country.

"Given the imminent threats, the military maintains and enhances its strategic advantage through a rapid operational doctrine, ready to deliver a crushing blow to any adversary," Hatami stated.

Iran's announcement follows the United States' deployment of an aircraft carrier strike group to the Middle East earlier this week, as tensions between Tehran and Washington continue to rise. US President Donald Trump declared on 27/1 that Iran was running out of time to negotiate a fair and reasonable nuclear deal, after Tehran stated it would not negotiate under threat.

UAVs armed in an underground bunker, as unveiled by Iran in 5/2022. Photo: Reuters

Diplomatic efforts to find a solution to the Iran issue are ongoing. Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is scheduled to meet his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan in Ankara today.

A Turkish official revealed to AFP that Fidan would propose Turkey as a mediator for dialogue between the parties. The official also publicly opposed "military intervention against Iran" due to its potential repercussions for both the region and globally.

In a statement to Al Jazeera two days prior, Foreign Minister Fidan emphasized Turkey's consistent support for a peaceful resolution to the Iranian nuclear issue. He expressed hope that all parties would reach an agreement as soon as possible and affirmed Turkey's readiness to assist if needed.

"Attacking Iran is the wrong choice. Restarting the war is the wrong choice, because Iran is ready to resume nuclear talks," the Turkish Foreign Minister said.

Russia has also called on the United States and Iran to engage in dialogue to de-escalate tensions. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated that "negotiation potential remains significant," while warning that any use of force against Tehran would cause chaos in the Middle East and lead to very dangerous consequences for regional security.

By Thanh Danh (AFP, Reuters, Xinhua)