Iran has sent the Shahid Bagheri to sea, a vessel the country describes as its first aircraft carrier, at a time marked by internal unrest and rising regional tensions.
Satellite images released by analyst Mehdi H. on X, dated January 26, show the ship anchored about 5 km south of Bandar Abbas port, with no official explanation from Iranian authorities regarding the reasons for the movement.
Among the possibilities raised are scheduled sea trials or a preventive measure to protect the vessel from potential instability in the port area. It is also not ruled out that the decision is linked to the geopolitical situation, aiming to preserve a strategic asset amid the growing tensions in the region.
Commissioned in February 2025, the Shahid Bagheri has rarely been seen in operation and did not participate in the recent conflict between Iran and Israel. The vessel is the result of the conversion of the container ship Perarin, which is about 240 meters long, modified to include a flight deck and a ski-jump ramp for takeoff.
Due to the maintenance of the original cargo ship’s superstructure, the runway was installed at an angle to the hull, a somewhat unconventional solution whose effectiveness is still in question. The ship is mainly designed to operate drones and helicopters, features a runway about 180 meters long, and is armed with Noor anti-ship missiles, Kowsar-222 surface-to-air missiles, as well as 30 mm automatic cannons and possibly 20 mm remote-controlled turrets.
Source: Militarnyi | Photo: X @warsurveillance | This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team
Sentinel-2 satellite image of the IRGCN drone carrier, IRIS Shahid Bagheri today anchored ~ 5 km south of Bandar-Abbas port, Jan 27, 2026. pic.twitter.com/oO6zGRhA7V
— Mehdi H. (@mhmiranusa) January 28, 2026
