With a 180-meter-long runway for drones, the vessel can travel up to 22,000 nautical miles without needing to refuel in ports. The report said it was converted from a commercial ship and would increase Iran’s power of deterrence.

Iran has inaugurated its first drone-carrier warship, saying the vessel is capable of operating in oceans far from its mainland.

With a 180-meter-long runway for drones, the vessel can travel up to 22,000 nautical miles without needing to refuel in ports

Iran's dedicated drone carrier was shown at sea on Thursday, in a report by state broadcaster IRIB. The Shahid Bahman Bagheri, which became operational in December, is a converted civilian container ship purchased from South Korea more than 20 years ago.