Iran boosts defence technology as US strikes hit six provinces

Iranian defence officials say that international sanctions and the recent war have driven a rapid surge in domestic defence technologies, relying on local knowledge, elite expertise and swift rebuilding of capabilities. The acting defence minister highlighted successes in tactics and equipment that surprised the enemy.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps reaffirmed that Iran will not submit, stressing self‑reliance after a U.S. air strike in Tabriz killed a member of the Iranian air‑defence unit. Tehran pledged to continue protecting its security and sovereignty.

The U.S. Central Command announced a ninth consecutive night of strikes, targeting Iranian military sites in six provinces—Hormozgan, Bushehr, Khuzestan, Sistan‑and‑Baluchestan, East Azerbaijan and West Azerbaijan—to diminish Iran’s ability to threaten commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran responded with attacks on U.S. bases and vessels in the strait, downing a drone and causing casualties. The exchange disrupted electricity supplies and caused injuries in the affected regions, heightening regional security concerns.