Iran marked its National Army Day on Friday with military parades taking place across the country. Attending a parade held in Tehran, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said that the development of the military would help Iran assert its views powerfully in the region and assist in engaging in dialogue with other countries for peace and stability.
He emphasized that without powerful military forces, Iran's enemies would attempt to destroy the country.
"At the beginning of the Iranian Revolution, we depended on foreign countries for all of our equipment. Now we are proud of our efforts in building and equipping our powerful armed forces. Progress has been made in all the equipment needed for the defense of our nation, and we now have strong naval, ground and air forces," said Pezeshkian.
In addition to formations of soldiers, Iran displayed dozens of unmanned reconnaissance and combat aircraft at the parade, as well as various types of weapons and equipment such as tanks, artillery and missiles.
Analysts believe that the military parades indicate Iran's determination to safeguard its national interests through its own capabilities while at the same time showcasing its military strength to the outside world, especially to the United States, ahead of the upcoming second round of Iran-U.S. negotiations on the nuclear issue.
The second round of U.S.-Iran indirect negotiations will be held in Rome on Saturday, according to the Iranian Foreign Ministry. The two sides will discuss Tehran's nuclear issues and Washington's sanctions.
Iran holds military parades to mark National Army Day
The Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) is emerging as a key engine for China's fast-growing low-altitude economy by leveraging its dense industrial networks, efficient logistics systems, and rapid innovation capacity.
From logistics and manufacturing to urban services, the region is building an integrated industrial chain that allows low-altitude industries to scale up at unprecedented speed, thus turning drone-based applications from isolated trials into large-scale, commercial operations.
China's 15th Five-Year Plan, covering 2026 to 2030, calls for the cultivation of new pillar industries and the accelerated development of strategic emerging industrial clusters, including the low-altitude economy.
At a drone operations center in Bao'an District, Shenzhen City in south China's Guangdong Province, a dozen logistics drones take off and land within minutes. Urgently needed production parts, documents, and small parcels are dispatched from here to cities in the province including Dongguan, Zhongshan, and Zhuhai.
Behind these high-flying aircraft lies what observers describe as an "invisible industrial chain", built on speed and efficiency.
"Look at this aircraft. About 90 percent of its components come from nearby areas. Relying on Shenzhen's strong logistics capabilities and its complete supply chain, these parts can be delivered to our factory within half an hour for assembly, processing, and production," said Li Kunhuang, person-in-charge of Shenzhen GODO Innovation Technology Co., Ltd.
Once a new product is unveiled, testing and calibration begin immediately at the drone testing field. As soon as the process is completed, the new models can be put into real-world operation, realizing almost “zero delay” from research and development to application.
Supported by a robust industrial chain, low-altitude routes in Shenzhen are effectively connecting the urban landscape. From its Bao'an District to Songshan Lake in Dongguan City, production components can be delivered within one hour. Supplies are transported between Zhuhai City's Xiangzhou Port to Dong'ao Island in just 25 minutes. And light industrial goods can travel round-trip within a single day between Guzhen Town in Zhongshan City and Xinhui District in Jiangmen City.
More low-altitude application scenarios are expected to be implemented in the near future.
In Qianhai District, Shenzhen is accelerating the construction of a pilot demonstration zone of low-altitude integrated three-dimensional transportation hub.
"We have built the country's first low-altitude integrated three-dimensional transportation hub, and are gradually developing a pilot flight zone that integrates multiple scenarios such as inspection, logistics, and cultural tourism. This will provide technical support for the next step of commercializing cross-border logistics and emergency rescue services across the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area," said Wu Xuemin, head of the Shenzhen Qianhai Low-Altitude Integrated Three-Dimensional Transportation Hub Pilot Demonstration Zone.
Integrated supply chains propel Greater Bay Area's low-altitude economy growth
Integrated supply chains propel Greater Bay Area's low-altitude economy growth
