(Adnkronos) – Tehran today celebrates National Army Day with military parades in several cities across the country, showcasing a wide range of domestically produced weapons, including drones, missiles, tanks and other vehicles. According to state television, the drones on display in Tehran include the Karrar, Arash and Mohajer jet-powered models, while Russian S-300 air defense systems were also on display in the capital. The event was attended by President Masoud Pezeshkian, who called the army “the fortress of the country” and praised it for its role in Iran’s regional projection.
The show of force comes on the eve of the meeting in Rome between the delegations of Tehran and Washington, for the second round of talks mediated by Oman. The first round, held last Saturday in Muscat, was described by both sides as “constructive”. So far, the Donald Trump White House has combined diplomatic overtures with military pressure on Tehran. In March, the president sent a letter to Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, urging a resumption of negotiations on the nuclear program and warning of the risk of military action if diplomacy fails. On Thursday, Trump said he was “in no hurry” to strike Iranian nuclear facilities, adding that he believes Iran “wants to talk.”
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who is leading the Tehran negotiations, said the country is “totally serious in these talks” and that it “will assess how to proceed based on the attitude of the counterpart.” According to the New York Times, Trump has blocked an Israeli plan to strike Iranian nuclear facilities, preferring to prioritize a diplomatic approach. On Thursday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated that Israel will not allow Iran to acquire nuclear weapons, despite the continuation of talks between Tehran and Washington.
