IRGC’s drone carrier IRIS Shahid Bagheri has been located approximately 6 kilometers off the coast of Bandar Abbas in the Persian Gulf. Satellite imagery (Sentinel-2, Jan 26-27 2026) shows this converted container-turned-drone mothership anchored strategically, right as tensions spike with President Trump’s announced US naval armada (led by USS Abraham Lincoln strike group) heading toward the region. Iran’s first full-service UAV carrier—commissioned Feb 2025—can launch swarms of combat drones, Ashura fast-attack vessels, and anti-ship missiles. A clear signal: Tehran is positioning assets to monitor, deter, or respond to any Scenario in the Strait of Hormuz chokepoint.
