Iran has unveiled two new home-made anti-aircraft systems after testing two ballistic missiles with a range of 1,700 kilometers from a ship in the Indian Ocean three days ago. Tehran is strengthening its military capabilities, enabling it to become an exporter of low-cost weapons, particularly drones, according to the American daily The Wall Street Journal.
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With our correspondent in Tehran, Siavosh Ghazi
Iran has developed a military industry in recent years that allows it to become an arms exporter, much to the dismay of the United States. Since the war in Ukraine, Iranian Shahed 136 kamikaze drones, widely used by Russia, have become famous.
According to Western sources, thousands of Shahed 136 drones have been sold to Russia. Tehran even participates in the manufacture of inexpensive drones in Russia. Tehran has also developed a new drone, the Shahed 238, much more powerful and faster than older generations.
The Revolutionary Guards involved in the development of this military industry
Even though arms sales are a state secret, according to various reports, Tehran has sold drones to allied countries such as Syria or Venezuela. The country would also have transmitted the technology to its allies in the region, notably the Lebanese Hezbollah, the Houthis in Yemen and the Iraqi Shiite militias.
The Revolutionary Guards – Iran’s elite army – are largely involved in the development of this military industry. And African countries like Sudan, Niger and Mali, with which Tehran has developed relations, are potential clients.
Read alsoIran supplies drones to Sudanese army, Bloomberg reports