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Rabat – Iran has just added a new spy ship to its fleet nationwide military maneuvers aimed to help protect its nuclear facilities, state media reported Wednesday.
Labeled Zargo, the ship is the first Iranian intelligence vessel and has become fully operational in naval combat, according to state television.
The ship was built using domestic resources. It features advanced electronic sensors, an integrated mast for the precise calculation of electromagnetic waves, active and passive interception, cyber operations, and intelligence surveillance systems.
In a statement on the news, Iran’s Navy Commander Shahram Irani said that “the Zagros signals intelligence ship will be the watchful eye of Iran’s navy in the seas and oceans.”
The maneuvers involve the regular armed forces as well as the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and will continue until mid-March, according to state media.
Iran says these maneuvers focus on protecting the Natanz and Fordo nuclear facilities in the central part of the country, and the Khondab site in the west.
The military has reportedly been conducting simulations as part of these recent military exercises, including interceptions of mock missile and drone attacks on the country’s key nuclear installations in Natanz.
Read also: Iran Welcomes Resumption of Diplomatic Ties with Morocco
Ever since the Trump administration’s withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear deal, Iran has seen heightened tensions concerning its nuclear program.
Iran has been holding a series of discussions, the most recent of which was a two-day meeting on January 13-14 in Geneva, Switzerland, with the United Kingdom, France, and Germany, amid growing concerns over the Middle Eastern country’s nuclear program advancement.
The International Atomic Energy Agency had already reported that the Middle Eastern nation increased its uranium enrichment to 60%, prompting European leaders to urge Iran to “immediately halt nuclear escalation.”
While Tehran insists that its nuclear program is purely civilian-run, Western nations remain unconvinced by these claims, calling for more sanctions on Iran to curb Iranians from supporting the current authority’s plans.
Recent reports from Axios say White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan has presented options to President Biden for possible strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities if Tehran moves toward developing nuclear weapons before the end of Biden’s term.
The question remains whether this move by Iran will worsen the situation and motivate Western leaders to put maximum pressure against Iran’s nuclear program.
