Iran unveils homegrown missile, drone at military parade marking Iran-Iraq war

Iran on Saturday unveiled its latest homegrown precision strike long-range ballistic missile and kamikaze drone at a grand parade staged by the country's armed forces, the semi-official Fars news agency reported.

The ballistic missile, dubbed Jahad, and the drone, named Shahed-136B, were displayed for the first time during the parade at the mausoleum of Imam Khomeini, the late founder of the Islamic Republic, in southern Tehran. The event marked the beginning of Sacred Defense Week, commemorating the eight-year Iran-Iraq war in the 1980s, according to the report.

The one-stage Jahad ballistic missile, powered by solid fuel, can strike targets up to 1,000 km away with pinpoint accuracy. It has been designed and developed by the Aerospace Force of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), according to Fars.

The Shahed 136B drone, powered by a turbojet engine, can destroy targets over 2,500 km away, Fars said, adding the unmanned aerial vehicle has also been designed and manufactured by the IRGC's Aerospace Force.

In a speech at the parade, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stressed that Iran has the capabilities to ''force the Israeli regime stop its crimes".

"Today we can declare to the world that in addition to defending our own country, Iran is capable of maintaining peace and stability with regional countries through solidarity and cohesion. And by uniting regional countries, Iran can force the Israeli regime, which is killing and committing genocide against women, children and the elderly, to stop its crimes," he said.

Iran unveils homegrown missile, drone at military parade marking Iran-Iraq war

Iran unveils homegrown missile, drone at military parade marking Iran-Iraq war

Iran unveils homegrown missile, drone at military parade marking Iran-Iraq war

Iran unveils homegrown missile, drone at military parade marking Iran-Iraq war

Iran's Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) on Monday rejected U.S. President Donald Trump's claim that there is a backchannel for talks between the United States and the IRGC.

In an interview with the semi-official Tasnim news agency, IRGC spokesperson Hossein Mohebbi called Trump's claim a "delusion," saying no dialogue is taking place between IRGC officials and the Americans.

Even Iran's diplomatic apparatus is not currently negotiating with the United States owing to American's "breach of promises," Mohebbi added.

Separately, at Monday's press conference, Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei denied media reports of unofficial contact between the U.S. and the IRGC via Iraqi Kurdistan officials and an alleged secret U.S.-Iran meeting in Erbil.

The reports are "media techniques and psychological operations used to sow discord among Iran's decision-making bodies," Baghaei said.

Trump told Fox News earlier Monday that his administration maintains a direct backchannel with Iran's IRGC officials, saying that he is "not in a hurry" to resolve the Iran issue and has set no new deadline for Tehran.

Separately, Trump posted on social media the same day that the U.S.'s top priority is -- and will always be -- ensuring that Iran does not possess nuclear weapons "in any way, shape or form."

Iran's IRGC rejects Trump's claim of backchannel talks