Iran to unveil drone; Nation of Islam’s Louis Farrakhan to attend ceremony

The Mullahs want to unveil a new drone; and who better to make the presentation than Louis Farrakhan. Iran’s regime will parade a homegrown drone in a ceremony Feb. 11, marking the 37th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution, Iranian media announced Tuesday. The drone, known as Shahed 129, which means ‘witness’ in Persian, will be displayed at an event Thursday with remarks by President Hassan Rouhani and special guest Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan, who will deliver a speech. The announcement comes from Tasnim News, a Tehran-based media outlet with strong ties to Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), with stated aims to defend Iran’s Islamic government against damaging media propaganda. First introduced by Iran’s Revolutionary Guard in 2012, the now mass-produced Shahed 129 drone, an unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle with reported endurance of 24 hours and 2000 km operational range, has already engaged in combat in Syria, striking vehicles and other targets. An armed display photo suggests the drone is capable of carrying four Sadid (guided) missiles, and Iranian sources have stated it is capable of a payload of eight weapons that can strike moving and stationary targets. Also on display will be the 'Emad' ballistic missile and 'Simorgh' satellite carrier, two of the country’s “defense and scientific achievements,” ceremony coordinator, Asghar Abkhezr said. According to Abkhezr, more than 450 foreign guests from 28 countries, including scientific, political, and influential figures from European, African, Asian, and American countries will attend the ceremony. He added that they are expecting 5,200 cameramen and journalists from Iran and around the world to cover the rallies that commemorate the anniversary of the Revolution. Feb. 11, 1979 marks the day the Shah was ousted from Iran and the Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini took control of the country, as Iran’s Revolution came to a climax.