Iran’s Revolutionary Guards have taken delivery of the country’s first ship capable of launching drones and helicopters at sea. Iran’s armed forces are unveiling new weaponry, and carrying out three months of military exercises, as Tehran braces for more tensions with Israel and the United States under President Donald Trump. “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 defence and deterrence capability of Iran in distant waters and in maintaining our national security interests,” Tangsiri added. The Shahid Beheshti, a former container vessel, is reportedly equipped with a 180-metre (590-ft) runway and is able to operate without refuelling for up to one year. The ship is different from previous Revolutionary Guards warships because it can launch and retrieve larger drones such as the Qaher, a miniaturised drone version of a local fighter jet.
The warship also holds fast-attack crafts and unmanned submarines, in addition to short-range anti-ship cruise missiles. Last month, Iran’s conventional navy received its first signals intelligence ship. Tehran has been in growing conflict with the West as it has supplied large numbers of drones and missiles for Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, and with the October 7 attack on Israel by Hamas and the Gaza war.
During Trump’s first time in the White House, he pulled America out of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action in 2018, a deal which aimed to limit Iran’s nuclear weapons ambitions while allowing it to develop the technology for energy purposes, and easing sanctions. At the time, he said the move sent a message that “the United States no longer makes empty threats”. Iran and Israel launched direct attacks on each other last year as tensions spiralled in the Middle East.
Trump on Tuesday restored his “maximum pressure” campaign on Iran that includes efforts to drive its oil exports down to zero in order to stop Tehran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. Ahead of a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, he signed the presidential memorandum reimposing Washington’s tough policy on Iran that was practiced throughout his first term. As he signed the memo, Trump described it as very tough and said he was torn on whether to make the move. He said he was open to a deal with Iran and expressed a willingness to talk to the Iranian leader.
“With me, it’s very simple: Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon,” Trump said. Asked how close Tehran is to a weapon, Trump said: “They’re too close.”. Iran is “dramatically” accelerating enrichment of uranium to up to 60% purity, close to the roughly 90% weapons-grade level, the UN nuclear watchdog said in December. Iran has denied wanting to develop a nuclear weapon. Britain, France and Germany told the United Nations Security Council in December that they are ready, if necessary, to trigger a snapback of all international sanctions on Iran to prevent the country from acquiring a nuclear weapon.
