TEHRAN, Sept 01 (Agencies): Iran's army unveiled state-of-the-art drone on Sunday, which is capable of tracking and hitting distant targets.
The drone, named Kian, has been designed and produced in two types and tested by the Iranian experts, Commander of the Iranian Army's Air Defence Force Alireza Sabahi-Fardand, was quoted as saying by state TV.
One type is capable of tracking and identifying targets at high speeds and the other is for long-haul flights to conduct precision-strike operations.
The long-haul vehicle is capable of hitting targets far from Iran's borders and engaging in defense operation on hostile territory, he said.
Meanwhile, Iran's President Hassan Rouhani spoke with French counterpart Emmanuel Macron Saturday, warning him Iran would take the next step in reducing its nuclear commitments unless Europe lives up to its own undertakings.
Tensions have spiked in the Gulf since May last year when President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew the US from a nuclear deal between Iran and world powers - known formally as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
Ships have been attacked, drones downed and oil tankers seized in the Gulf in recent months.
Macron has been leading efforts to de-escalate the situation and he expressed hopes of bringing together Rouhani and Trump for a meeting during a G7 summit days ago.
But Rouhani has downplayed the likelihood of that happening unless the United States first lifts crippling sanctions that it has slapped on Iran since pulling out of the deal.
"If Europe cannot operationalise its commitments, Iran will take its third step to reduce its JCPOA commitments," Rouhani reportedly told Macron in the phone call.
However, "this step, just like the other ones, will be reversible," he added, quoted on the Iranian government's website.
"Unfortunately after this unilateral move by the US, European countries did not take concrete measures to implement their commitments," he continued.
"The contents of JCPOA are unchangeable and all parties must be committed to its contents," he said.
Rouhani said Iran had two priorities: for all parties to the JCPOA to fully implement their obligations and "securing the safety of all free maritime transportation in all waterways including the Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz".
Macron's office released a statement later Saturday in which he stressed the importance of "the current dynamic to create the conditions for a de-escalation through dialogue and building a durable solution in the region."
A French diplomatic source said it was important, after recent discussions between Paris and Tehran, to establish that President Rouhani was "still ready to negotiate. And that is the case."
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