IRGC Unveils Underground Drone Base as Shahed-136 Displayed at U.S. Capitol Amid U.S.-Iran Tensions

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) of Iran has unveiled a new underground drone base, showcasing its military capabilities amid heightened tensions with the United States and Israel. The facility, part of the IRGC Navy, houses hundreds of domestically produced drones, including the Mohajer-6, which have been used to monitor U.S. military presence in the Persian Gulf, specifically tracking the USS Carl Vinson, F/A-18E/F Super Hornets, EA-18G Growlers, and E-2D aircraft.

This development coincides with a display of a captured Iranian Shahed-136 drone at the U.S. Capitol, organized by the organization United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI). The event, attended by U.S. lawmakers including House Speaker Mike Johnson, Senator Ted Cruz, and Representative Mike Lawler, highlighted concerns over Iran's drone proliferation and its support for Russia's actions in Ukraine. U.S. officials condemned Iran's role in global conflicts and called for full Iranian nuclear disarmament. The Shahed-136 drone, with a length of 3 meters 35 cm, a width of 2 meters 44 cm, a range of 2,575 km, and a payload capacity of 50 kg TNT, costs approximately $8,000 to produce. It has been used in attacks, including one on a U.S. base in Jordan that resulted in the deaths of 3 U.S. soldiers and injuries to 47 others, and a similar model was used in an attack on the Chernobyl nuclear plant.

IRGC Commander-in-Chief Major General Hossein Salami issued a stern warning to the U.S. and Israel, stating that any military action against Iran would result in severe repercussions. Salami emphasized Iran's readiness for war at any scale, while also prioritizing diplomacy in resolving the nuclear issue. The event at the U.S. Capitol featured discussions by experts Bogdan Klich, Norman Roule, and Jason Brodsky, with UANI CEO Mark Wallace and Polish Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski also commenting on the threat posed by Iranian drone technology.