WANA (Feb 09) – Iran’s Ministry of Defense has announced that public media unveilings of the country’s defense achievements have been suspended for the time being due to security considerations and the need to preserve the element of “strategic surprise,” while the integration of these capabilities into operational units continues.

 

Iran’s Defense Ministry spokesperson Brigadier General Reza Talaei-Nik said that Iran’s latest offensive and defensive achievements have already entered the country’s operational defense cycle, but authorities are refraining from publicizing them for security reasons.

 

He underscored the growing role of advanced technologies in strengthening Iran’s defense capabilities, describing artificial intelligence as a key driver of technological advancement. According to Talaei-Nik, the Ministry of Defense is pursuing targeted, well-planned investments in AI, microelectronics, cyber technologies, and other advanced fields through short- and medium-term programs in cooperation with other relevant institutions.

 

The spokesperson also announced that a Drone Support Center within the Ministry of Defense’s Aerospace Industries Organization will become operational next year.

 

The center will focus on supporting private-sector, knowledge-based companies, providing assistance from the ideation stage through design, manufacturing, and the development of auxiliary drone equipment. This support will primarily involve technical assistance as well as the transfer of know-how and technology, aimed at expanding non-military applications of drones.

 

Talaei-Nik noted that, beyond defense uses, drones offer significant potential in civilian sectors such as communications, data exchange, geospatial information, environmental monitoring, and search and rescue operations—areas that require rapid response and lightweight aerial platforms.

 

He expressed confidence that next year will see a marked expansion in the civilian use of drones in Iran, driven by commercialization efforts and the growing role of knowledge-based companies, in coordination with the Civil Aviation Organization and other state bodies.