Iran has announced the integration of 1,000 new drones into the arsenal of its Armed Forces, a step linked to rising tensions with the United States and US President Donald Trump’s belligerent speech.
According to Tehran’s state news agencies, the unmanned aerial vehicles were developed by Army experts in collaboration with the Defense Ministry to address “emerging threats” and take advantage of lessons learned from the 12-day war against Israel last year.
The drones, which can be used for both land and maritime purposes, would be equipped with offensive, tactical and strategic capabilities, capable of attacking fixed and mobile targets on land, in the air and at sea, without images of the devices having been released for military security reasons.
Iranian army commander Amir Hatami stressed that strengthening military power aims to maintain and expand the country’s strategic advantages, enabling rapid and “decisive” responses to any external aggression. Hatami said that this priority is aligned with future threats perceived by Tehran and that expanding drone capacity is part of this permanent defense strategy.
The announcement of drone integration comes amid growing rhetorical escalation between Tehran and Washington. Trump escalated his posture against Iran, saying that an American naval group – described by him as a “massive fleet” – was heading towards the Middle East and that “time is running out” for the country to agree to a fair deal, without mentioning the use of nuclear weapons. The president emphasized the United States’ readiness to act with speed and force if necessary.
In response to the American statements, Iranian authorities reiterated that they are open to dialogue only on terms they consider respectful and balanced, but reiterated that they will firmly defend themselves against any pressure or attack. Tensions between the two countries remain high, with mutual threats and military movements raising concerns about possible confrontations in the region.
Source: UOL | Photo: X @RT_com | This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
Iran adds 1,000 new strategic drones to its military — IRIB
The drones are built for strike, reconnaissance & electronic warfare across land, sea and air
Officials say the move aims to enable a crushing response to any attack pic.twitter.com/8WPYjNUm2i
— RT (@RT_com) January 29, 2026
