Tehran, Iran – The Commander-in-Chief of the Iranian Army, Major General Amir Hatami, ordered on Thursday the bolstering of the armed forces’ capabilities by adding 1,000 strategic drones to its military formations, a move that comes amid escalating tensions with the United States. According to the Iranian news agency Tasnim, the drones were designed and developed by military specialists in cooperation with the Ministry of Defense, in line with modern threats and lessons learned from the recent 12-day war. The agency explained that these drones are designed for destruction, attack, reconnaissance, and electronic warfare missions, and are capable of targeting fixed and mobile sites on land, at sea, and in the air.
Meanwhile, CNN reported that US President Donald Trump is considering a major new strike against Iran after initial talks between Washington and Tehran on curbing Iran’s nuclear program and ballistic missile production failed to achieve tangible progress. The network, citing informed sources, said that a direct meeting between Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi and US envoy Steve Wittkopf was discussed but did not take place. CNN also noted that messages were exchanged between the two sides through Omani intermediaries to avert a potential US attack. The network added that Iran is attempting to rebuild its underground nuclear facilities, suggesting that Trump’s renewed serious consideration of a military strike represents a rapid shift in the priorities of the US administration.
On Wednesday, Trump called on Iran, via the Truth Social platform, to return to the negotiating table to reach a “fair and just agreement—without nuclear weapons,” warning that any future US attack would be “far worse” than the strike the United States carried out last summer against three Iranian nuclear sites. According to the American network, the options available to Trump include airstrikes targeting Iranian leaders and security officials, as well as strikes on nuclear facilities and government institutions. It confirmed that the US president has not yet made a final decision, but believes his military options have expanded with the arrival of a US aircraft carrier strike group in the region.
