Iran’s navy unveils its first signals intelligence ship

DUBAI: Iran’s navy received its first signals intelligence ship on Wednesday, semi-official news organization Tasnim reported, days after the country’s military took delivery of 1,000 new drones. Zagros is a new category of military vessels equipped with electronic sensors and the ability to intercept cyber operations and conduct intelligence monitoring, Tasnim said. “The signal intelligence ship Zagros will be the watchful eye of the Iranian Navy in the seas and oceans,” said Navy Commander Shahram Irani. Earlier this month, Iran began two months of military exercises that have already included war games in which the elite Revolutionary Guards defended key nuclear facilities at Natanz from mock missile and drone attacks. The military exercises and purchases come at a time of high tensions with arch-enemy Israel and the United States under incoming US President Donald Trump. In October, an Iranian government spokesman said the country planned to increase its military budget by around 200% to counter the growing threats.