TEHRAN -- Brigadier General Abolfazl Shekarchi, deputy head of cultural and soft war affairs at Iran’s General Staff of the Armed Forces, on Tuesday declared that the United States’ replication of the Iranian “Shahed 136” drone represents a clear admission of Tehran’s superior drone technology. 
Speaking during a visit to the IRGC Aerospace Exhibition, Shekarchi hailed this as one of the highest honors for Iran’s defense industry — a testament that global military powers recognize and imitate Iranian innovation in unmanned aerial systems.
The Shahed 136 is a long-range loitering munition designed and produced entirely in Iran by the IRGC Aerospace Force in cooperation with the Ministry of Defense and young Iranian scientists. 
Capable of flying hundreds of kilometers to its target, it loiters over battlefields before executing precision strikes on high-value enemy assets. Its design emphasizes stealth, cost-efficiency, and the ability to overwhelm advanced enemy air defenses, making it a disruptive force in modern warfare.
Shekarchi pointed out that the recent 12-day war highlighted the drone’s effectiveness. Despite facing adversaries equipped with cutting-edge defense systems and enjoying political and military backing from the United States and Israel, Iranian forces successfully repelled the aggression. 
Enemy attempts to sustain conflict were ultimately curtailed, forcing them to seek a halt through “pleading and messaging,” a sign of Iran’s enhanced battlefield readiness and strategic dominance.
The general underscored that Iranian armed forces have not become complacent. Instead, they have continuously analyzed and addressed operational shortcomings to boost power levels. 
“We are now far more prepared than at the beginning of the recent hostilities,” Shekarchi said. The fact that global superpowers are producing technology based on the Shahed 136 is a striking confirmation of the drone’s tactical edge and Iran’s growing influence in drone warfare.
Beyond tactical success, Shekarchi framed Iran’s advancements within larger geopolitical shifts marking the waning influence of the United States and Israel in the Middle East. 
“Signs of America’s decline and Israel’s political and military setbacks illuminate a brighter regional future,” he stated, pointing to Iran’s extended role in shaping regional security dynamics.
This expanded influence was exemplified by Iran’s recent hosting of the Sahand international military exercise, where 14 Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member and guest states participated. 
The large-scale drills focused on counterterrorism, security cooperation, and joint operations, underscoring Iran’s active engagement in multilateral frameworks aimed at region-wide stability. 
The event marked Iran’s first opportunity to showcase its expertise and lead anti-terrorism operations within the SCO context, countering decades-long attempts by adversaries to isolate Tehran diplomatically and militarily.
Shekarchi stressed Iran’s pivotal role in combating terrorism, especially through the leadership of the late General Qassem Soleimani, who orchestrated campaigns that significantly weakened the Daesh terrorist network and other extremist groups—including those backed by Western and Israeli proxies. 
The repeated defeats of such groups serve as tangible evidence of Iran’s strategic dominance over foreign-sponsored terrorism in the region.
He described SCO countries working in harmony as a symbol of an emergent power bloc resisting Western hegemony. Iran, far from weakened by recent wars and sanctions, has emerged stronger and more assertive, ready to shape strategic decisions and security outcomes in the broader region.
In a forward-looking move, Iran plans to host an international conference on psychological operations, media strategies, and cognitive warfare under the SCO umbrella during spring next year. 
This underscores a growing Iranian focus on modern warfare’s non-kinetic aspects, such as information dominance and psychological resilience, complementing its kinetic military capabilities.
Shekarchi also traced Iran’s defense growth to spiritual and ideological roots, invoking the legacy of Fatima al-Zahra (SA)—the beloved daughter of Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon Him)—and her values as central to inspiring the country’s missile, drone, air defense, and aerospace programs. 
He paid homage to foundational military architects like Hassan Tehrani Moghaddam, Amir Ali Hajizadeh, and Mahmoud Bagheri, whose vision and sacrifice laid the groundwork for today’s strategic assets.