Amid rising tensions with the west and the worst antigovernment protests since the Iranian Green Movement, iran's military tested new attack drones in the coastal area of the Gulf of Oman and near the strategic Strait of Hormuz on Saturday as part of military drills conducted by Tehran.
Now, the strait is located at the mouth of the Persian Gulfs and is crucial to global energy supplies, with about a fifth of all oil traded at sea passing through it. Iran's air, land and naval forces are participating in the drills and also includes drones and submarines.
According to reports, commandos and airborne infantry will participate in the war games dubbed as the Zulfikar 1401, along with the drones, fighter jet helicopters, military transport aircraft and submarines.
The maneuvers are aimed at improving readiness and confronting foreign threats and any possible invasion. Officials say that drones participating in the drills would participate in information gathering operations against attacking forces, as well as reconnaissance operations.
Iran regularly holds such drills to improve its defense capabilities and test weapons. In July, Iran's army unveiled its first division of ships and submarines capable of carrying armed drones when US President Joe Biden was touring the Middle East. Ten standoffs have erupted in the past between Western militaries, their shipping companies and Iranian vessels over oil deliveries and sanctions. The United States and Israel, arch enemies of Iran, have previously accused Tefran of using drones and missiles to attack US Forces and Israel linked ships in the Gulf. The Islamic Republic has also faced rounds of sanctions by Western countries as they accuse Iran of providing drones to Russia to be used in the Ukraine war, A tame tefran has roundly rejected.
