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Irans drones have typically been knock-off western technology with limited ordinance capacity and very limited range when compared to their American counterparts. But, Tehrans drone program be getting a GPS boost.

Shahed 129

Irans drone program operates a variety of Unmanned Arial Vehicles (UAVs). The backbone of their UAV program is the Shahed 129, a large-sized armed drone, visually similar to the American General Atomics MQ-1 Predator, though the Predator is a vastly more capable platform.

While the earlier (presumable first-generation) Shahed 129s had a thinner, more pencil-shaped fuselage, the newer models have a distinctly Predator-like nose bulge, presumably to accommodate a synthetic-aperture radar antenna, a higher-resolution radar system, or perhaps a link for satellite-based navigation.

The early-model Shahed 129s (and possibly the newer models as well) were limited not so much by fuel capacity as by their data-link capacity.

The United States MQ-1 Predators can be operated from virtually anywhere in the world, while the Shahed 129 is reliant on a ground operator. If true, dependence on a ground-based controller would likely limit the Shahed 129s range to 200-400 kilometers (125-250 miles).

Pit Stop

In 2015, a Shahed 129 crashed near the Iran-Pakistan border. This early-model Shahed may have flown outside of the ground-based controllers range or run out of fuel. Photos of the downed drone showed what appeared to be two or possibly four hardpoints for bombs and/or missile attachment.

Although Iranian drones have usually taken an observational role, rather than a direct-action stance, Iranian drone capabilities have slowly been shifting towards an offensive ground attack role.

Armed and Dangerous

Irans drones have been wreaking havoc in the Middle East. This video shows a Shahed 129 taking off and retracting its landing gear.

Back in February of 2016, an Iranian drone, presumably a Shahed 129, was seen with what appeared to be a missile similar to what has been seen in Iranian state media.

Several Shahed 129s made an appearance in Syrias civil war again in 2017, two of which were shot down by American F-15Es. One of the drones was apparently able to drop ordinance on or near Syrian fighters before it was shot down.

Going Global?

In 2016, a Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Air Force commander implied that Iran was in the process of upgrading their drone fleet in order to end its reliance on ground-based controllers towards a satellite-based system. This may be the reason for the nose bulges seen in the newer model Shahad 129s.

If claims about GPS-navigable Shahed 129s are credible, then Iran presumably has the ability to use GPS navigation in tandem with other weapons systems, namely ballistic weapons.

If true, this lessens the technological military advantage of both regional adversaries (Israel), and those of the United States. This tech could be exported to Irans regional allies like Hezbollah in Lebanon, Yemen, or indeed to Syria, where this has presumably already happened.

Caleb Larson is a Defense Writer with The National Interest. He holds a Master of Public Policy and covers U.S. and Russian security, European defense issues, and German politics and culture.

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Shahed 129: Iran's Very Own Predator Drone That Fights F-15s? - The National Interest

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Printed newspapers and magazines are to vanish from next month in Iran, which has been particularly hard hit by the coronavirus pandemic. "In order to effectively implement the plan to reduce social contacts adopted by the Ministry of Health, no more newspapers are to be printed by the specified date (April 8) and will only appear online," the state news agency IRNA quoted a spokesman for the Ministry of the Interior as saying on Monday. About 65 newspapers and magazines are published in the country, including sports newspapers, which are very popular among Iranians. According to the Ministry of Health, more than 40,000 infections and 2757 COVID-19 deaths have been registered in Iran since February. Australian Associated Press

https://nnimgt-a.akamaihd.net/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-feed-data/ccddf4bd-c7f1-4cb9-8527-4f71ac84f3a3.jpg/r0_74_800_526_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg

Printed newspapers and magazines are to vanish from next month in Iran, which has been particularly hard hit by the coronavirus pandemic.

"In order to effectively implement the plan to reduce social contacts adopted by the Ministry of Health, no more newspapers are to be printed by the specified date (April 8) and will only appear online," the state news agency IRNA quoted a spokesman for the Ministry of the Interior as saying on Monday.

About 65 newspapers and magazines are published in the country, including sports newspapers, which are very popular among Iranians.

According to the Ministry of Health, more than 40,000 infections and 2757 COVID-19 deaths have been registered in Iran since February.

Australian Associated Press

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Iran orders halt to printed newspapers - The Canberra Times

"We recently received information from U.S. officials that has led both them and us to conclude that our wonderful husband and father died while in Iranian custody. We don't know when or how he died, only that it was prior to the COVID-19 pandemic," they said in a statement.

"It is impossible to describe our pain," the family said.

"Bob Levinson was a truly remarkable individual - the best husband, father, brother, grandfather and friend anyone could ever ask for. He was an American hero - a true patriot, and his compassion and kindness knew no bounds," they said. "We will miss his warmth, humor, and wisdom, but most of all, we will miss the deep and unconditional love he had for each one of us. He will never be forgotten - we will make sure of it."

Levinson traveled to Kish Island, Iran, in early March 2007, according to State Department officials, and was never publicly seen or heard from again. He became the longest-held US citizen in history in 2016.

Iranian officials had long denied that Levinson was ever in the country, claiming there was no proof.

President Donald Trump personal's focus on bringing American hostages home also gave them heart, as did the administration's move later in November to offer a $25 million reward for information leading to Levinson's return. December saw the release of Princeton graduate student Xiyue Wang, which seemed to offer the family some hope as it indicated Iran was willing to release Americans.

On Wednesday, despite the family's statement, Trump said that he doesn't "accept that he's dead."

"It's not looking great, but I won't accept that he's dead," the President said during a White House briefing.

National security adviser Robert O'Brien said in a statement Wednesday evening that "Iran must provide a complete accounting of what occurred with Bob Levinson before the United States can fully accept what happened in this case."

"While the investigation is ongoing, we believe that Bob Levinson may have passed away some time ago," he said.

'The very definition of cruelty'

In their statement, the family noted that they had not received his body for a proper burial and they "don't even know when, or even if, his body would be returned to us."

"This is the very definition of cruelty," they said.

"Those who are responsible for what happened to Bob Levinson, including those in the U.S. government who for many years repeatedly left him behind, will ultimately receive justice for what they have done," they said.

The family said Wednesday that they "expect American officials, as well as officials around the world, to continue to press Iran to seek Bob's return, and to ensure those Iranian officials involved are held accountable," they said.

In their statement, the family thanked Trump "and the members of his Administration - National Security Advisor Robert C. O'Brien, Secretary of State Michael Pompeo, Acting Director of National Intelligence Richard Grenell, C.I.A. Director Gina Haspel, and FBI Director Christopher Wray - and their staff, who have done all they could to make our family whole again."

CNN has reached out to the State Department and the FBI for comment. The CIA had no comment.

"Our family also wishes to thank Congressman Ted Deutch, Senator Bill Nelson, Senator Marco Rubio and Senator Bob Menendez, and their staff members, who fought for Bob Levinson in every possible way," they said.

In a statement, Rubio said that "the news announced today by his family was the one none of us ever wanted to hear."

Menendez said his "heart goes out to the Levinson family tonight, who are mourning the loss of a beloved husband and father, especially his son, who works in my DC office and his daughters who are New Jersey constituents."

Both the Florida Republican and New Jersey Democrat, respectively, called for Iran to be held accountable.

Deutch said he was "devastated for the Levinson family."

"They have endured more than any family should ever have to, and it has been my great honor to fight alongside them for Bob's return. They deserved a better outcome. They deserved to be reunited with Bob," the Florida Democrat said.

'They will only know him through the stories we tell them'

The family said they would hold a memorial service when the threat posed by Covid-19 has subsided.

"Our family will spend the rest of our lives without the most amazing man we have ever known, a new reality that is inconceivable to us. His grandchildren will never meet him. They will only know him through the stories we tell them," they said.

In a December appearance in a District of Columbia courtroom to seek damages against Iran for holding Levinson, his children shared stories of a loving, dedicated and thoughtful man who took joy in his family.

Their testimony was often interrupted by tears as they struggled to speak. Siblings, husbands, wives and grandchildren Levinson had never met listened intently, some occasionally reaching for tissues or each other's hands.

"My father is the patriarch of our family, by far the greatest and most amazing man I've ever known, bar none," Levinson's youngest child, Douglas, told the courtroom.

When his mother told him his father had disappeared, Douglas remembers screaming, then the difficulty he had breathing. The next day, he went to his father's study to write him an email. "I was concerned. I was worried. I was a 13-year-old kid, I wanted him home," Douglas said.

Douglas read the email aloud in court, almost 13 years after he'd written it. "Hi, Daddy, I'm sitting in your den crying," he read, his voice cracking. "Everyone is looking for you, even the FBI. ... Daddy, I love you so much. Please, Dad, I'm so scared. ... I love you so much."

CNN's Mohammed Tawfeeq, Kylie Atwood, Zachary Cohen, Joshua Replogle and Michael Callahan contributed to this report.

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Family of American Robert Levinson, who disappeared in Iran, say they believe he is dead - CNN

As many as 277 evacuees were brought to Jodhpur from Iran on the early morning of March 25. (Photo:ANI)

A 41-year-old Indian, who was part of the group evacuated from Iran last week and quarantined at an army facility in Jodhpur, has tested positive for novel coronavirus. With the fresh case, the number of Covid-19 cases in Rajasthan has gone up to 60.

The person found to be coronavirus positive on Monday in Rajasthan's Jodhpur was one of the 277 evacuees who were brought to India from Iran on March 25.

One more positive case reported as a 41-year-old male resident of Ladakh, an evacuee from Iran, landed in Jodhpur on 25 March from Iran and admitted to MDH Hospital, Jodhpur, Rohit Kumar Singh, ACS, Medical and Health, Rajasthan, said on Monday.

The person was one of the evacuees kept at the Army's Military Wellness Centre in Jodhpur

The evacuees were brought to Jodhpur from Iran on the early morning of March 25. All these evacuees first tested negative for Covid-19 at Iran on March 20. On their arrival at Jodhpur airport, they were screened by medical authorities and taken to army wellness facility. All precautions had been undertaken for their reception, boarding and lodging. All evacuees are quarantined based on their age, gender and family relations, the official said.

On March 29, this person and 72-year-old mother complained of flu-like symptoms. They were sent to MDM Hospital at Jodhpur for testing. While the son has tested positive, results of the mother have confirmed that she hasnt been infected, Colonel Sombit Ghosh, PRO Defence Rajasthan said.

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Coronavirus in India: Evacuee from Iran tests positive in Jodhpur - India Today

(March 29, 2020 / JNS) The Trump administration is expected to continue allowing Russian, Chinese and European companies to keep operating at Iranian nuclear facilities, despite U.S. sanctions on Iran over its nuclear program, two sources familiar with the decision told JNS on Friday.

The United States has continuously extended the civilian nuclear waivers under the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), commonly know as the Iran nuclear deal, since withdrawing from in May 2018. The government has reimposed sanctions lifted under it, along with enacting new financial penalties against the regime as part of what the administration has called a maximum pressure campaign.

The deadline to extend the waivers, which has lasted 60 days, is Monday. They affect the Arak and Bushehr facilities, and the Tehran Research Reactor, where the fuel is provided by Russia, which also removes the facilitys spent fuel after its used in the reactor. The last extension was granted in January and also came with the United States sanctioning the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran and its chief, Ali Akbar Salehi.

The nuclear agreement between Iran and world powers has allowed Tehran to continue its nuclear program within certain limits in exchange for lifting of economic sanctions.

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The length of the upcoming waivers is yet to be determined.

While no decision has officially been made, an internal Trump administration battle between U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has apparently been brewing over whether to renew the waivers, with the former in favor and the latter against, according to three sources familiar with the situation.

Although tension between Mnuchin and Pompeo on Iran policy is nothing new, this is the first time that Mnuchin has departed from the argument that the United States should seek to fix and not withdraw from the Iran nuclear deal and now has taken the John Kerry position that we need to work with the Iranians, said a U.S. official familiar with the inner-agency process, referring to the secretary of state under President Barack Obama, who agreed to the Iran nuclear accord.

In other words, its the first time that hes given up President Trumps agenda and instead gone the John Kerry route of we just have to allow these waivers for the Iranians, said the official.

The U.S. State and Treasury Departments did not respond to a request for comment.

Republicans on Capitol Hill, including Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.), have previously objected to waivers being extended and are likely do so were there to be another extension.

Some want the waivers ended because Iran should not have fissile-material production capabilities supported in any way by international assistance, but it is unclear how we get to the closure of those facilities in the absence of a replacement deal, Andrea Stricker, a research fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, previously told JNS.

Robert Einhorn, who served as the U.S. Department of State special adviser for nonproliferation and arms control in the Obama administration, previously told JNS, revoking remaining waivers would not mark the complete withdrawal of the U.S. from the JCPOA. The U.S. has already completely withdrawn. It no longer considers itself bound by any of its commitments.

Sanctions against dealing with Irans nuclear organizations are U.S. sanctions. In the absence of sanctions waivers, foreign entities (e.g., Chinese, Russian, British) cooperating with Irans nuclear organizations on JCPOA-mandated projects (e.g., converting the Arak heavy water reactor) would be subject to sanctions, he continued. So revoking remaining waivers could put an end to those projects, which serve important nonproliferation goals, and drive another nail into the JCPOAs coffin.

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US expected to renew waivers allowing foreign firms to work at Iranian nuclear sites - JNS.org