TEHRAN -- A thousand new drones were delivered to Iran’s army on Monday as the country shores up its defenses amid hostile rhetoric by U.S. and Zionist officials.  
The drones were delivered to various locations throughout Iran and are said to have high stealth and anti-fortification abilities.
“The drones’ unique features, including a range of over 2,000 kilometers, high destructive power, the ability to pass through defense layers with low Radar Cross Section, and autonomous flight, not only increase the depth of reconnaissance and border monitoring but also boost the combat capability of the army’s drone fleet in confronting distant targets,” IRNA reported.
“The drones that joined the Combat Organization today render the Islamic Republic’s Army capable of bringing the skies under its command if necessary, and administer fatal blows to the enemy,” Defense Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh told the ceremony.
The new drones, he said, are capable of landing in and taking off from the sea. 
Earlier this month, Iran started two-months-long military exercises which have already included war games in which the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps defended key nuclear installations in Natanz against mock attacks by missiles and drones.
Nasirzadeh said Monday what the country had deployed during the maneuvers only comprised a fraction of its capabilities.
“We have some amazing and surprising equipment in our possession, which would be deployed by our armed forces if needed.”
The Iranian army, Nasirzadeh said, has attained considerable maturity in using drones, employing a manifold range of the aircraft and relevant strategies alongside special innovations. 
The drills were launched as U.S. news website Axios reported that White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan had presented President Joe Biden with options for a potential U.S. strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities before January 20, when Donald Trump takes office.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei lambasted the reports, saying threats against the country’s nuclear facilities are “a gross violation of international law”.
On Sunday, Iran’s army unveiled a state-of-the-art laser-powered air defense system named Seraj (Light) as defense forces drilled near the Fordow uranium enrichment facility.
The army said the system is only one of the layers providing the site with air defense services.