Iran unveils largest naval military project to date: 'Martyr Bahman Bagheri'

Iran's Revolutionary Guards launched the Martyr Bahman Bagheri, its first drone carrier, in Gulf waters, capable of launching missiles and carrying 60 drones.

Iran's Revolutionary Guards unveiled the country's first drone carrier on Thursday in Gulf waters, state media reported.

During the launching event, Guards naval commander Alireza Tangsiri stated that the carrier, known as the Martyr Bahman Bagheri, is a commercial vessel that has been converted into a drone carrier during the last two and a half years.(AFP)

The carrier, called the Martyr Bahman Bagheri, is a commercial vessel that was repurposed as a drone carrier over the past two-and-a-half years, Guards naval commander Alireza Tangsiri said during the unveiling ceremony.

Described by Tangsiri as the "largest naval military project" in the history of the Islamic republic, the carrier is capable of launching long-range missiles in addition to carrying drones and helicopters.

It is also equipped for electronic warfare, and can remain at sea for up to a year.

According to the IRNA state news agency, the vessel has a capacity of 60 drones.

During the unveiling ceremony, Guards chief Hossein Salami emphasised that Iran did not seek to threaten others, "but we will not bow to the threat of any power".

He also stated that Iran "will not engage in any wars with the governments we recognise".

The chief of the Iranian armed forces, General Mohammad Bagheri, who was also present at the ceremony, described the vessel as "a mobile base that can operate self-sufficiently throughout the world's waters".

Iran on Sunday unveiled a new ballistic missile it said was capable of reaching targets up to 1,700 kilometres (1,056 miles) away during a ceremony attended by President Masoud Pezeshkian.

Since the 1979 revolution and the break in ties with the United States -- which had been Iran's main arms supporter -- Tehran has developed a series of sophisticated missiles and drones.

The unveiling of the carrier coincides with the so-called Fajr decade, an annual 10-day celebration of the Islamic revolution that overthrew the US-backed shah of Iran.

Since the return of US President Donald Trump, who pursued a "maximum pressure" policy against Tehran during his first term, the Iranian government has conducted multiple shows of military strength.

The armed forces have launched large-scale military exercises across the country and showcased underground military bases in recent days.