TEHRAN – Rear Admiral Shahram Irani, commander of the Iranian Navy, has announced the upcoming launch of a new combat reconnaissance destroyer, underscoring Iran's determination to bolster its naval strength.

The Navy chief announced on Friday that the new warship "Zagros" is a combat destroyer designed not only for offensive operations but also for intelligence-gathering purposes. 

In an interview with Iranian national television, the Rear Admiral announced that the modern destroyer is equipped with a hangar for helicopter storage and has been fully outfitted, preparing to join the Navy’s fleet soon. 

Discussing the status of the Sahand destroyer, which was recovered after sinking in Iran’s southern port city of Bandar Abbas in July, Irani stated that the vessel is undergoing swift preparations for its service return. 

Following its participation in a large-scale war game, the Sahand destroyer will be deployed to the northern waters of the Indian Ocean on a mission to bolster security, the Rear Admiral noted. 

In recent years, the Iranian Navy has celebrated several significant achievements.

In 2023, Iran’s 86th flotilla of warships completed an unprecedented 360-degree global voyage of 63,000 kilometers that took eight months. 

The flotilla, featuring the domestically-built destroyer Dena and the Makran forward base ship, set a record for the longest distance sailed by an Iranian flotilla in international waters, successfully navigating the Strait of Magellan, the closest point to the South Pole. 

Another monumental milestone for Iran's Navy was the successful hosting of the Indian Maritime Exercise (IMEX) 2024, which welcomed numerous members and observers of the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS). 

The Iranian destroyer Jamaran played a key role in the joint naval exercise, which also involved the participation of the naval forces of Russia, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, Pakistan, Qatar, and Bangladesh.