The semi-official Tasnim newspaper reported that the Iranian navy received its first signals spy ship on Wednesday. This comes just a few weeks after the army of Iran took delivery 1,000 new drones.

Tasnim stated that the Zagros is an entirely new type of military vessel, equipped with electronic sensors. It can intercept cyber-operations as well as conduct intelligence monitoring.

The Zagros signal intelligence ship will watch over the Iranian navy on the seas, oceans and the high seas," said Navy Commander Shahram Irani.

In the first week of this month, Iran began a two-month long military exercise that included war games wherein the elite Revolutionary Guards protected key nuclear installations at Natanz from mock attacks using missiles and drones.

The drills and purchases are taking place at a time when tensions between the United States and Israel, their arch-enemy, have reached a high level under Donald Trump's presidency.

The spokesperson for the Iranian government stated that the country intends to increase its military budget around 200% in order to meet the growing threats. (Reporting and editing by Michael Perry; Dubai Newsroom)

(source: Reuters)