Amid military exercises lasting from early January to early March, Iran’s armed forces have unveiled new weaponry as Tehran braces for more tensions with Israel and the US 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 Revolutionary Guards navy commander 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 equipped with a 180m runway and is able to operate without refuelling for up to one year, Tasnim said.

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 craft and unmanned submarines, in addition to short-range anti-ship cruise missiles.

Last month, Iran’s conventional navy received its first signals intelligence ship.