The United States launches UAV in the Middle East amid tensions with Iran
The US Navy's Fifth Fleet, based in the Middle East, said on Wednesday it would launch a new task force that, after years of naval attacks, linked to Iran. Navy officials declined to name what systems they would deploy from Bahrain. However, they promised that drones would be able to expand their capabilities in the region in the coming months.
“We want to install more systems in the maritime area above, on and under the sea,” said Vice Admiral Brad Cooper, who leads the 5th Fleet. “We want to be more aware of what's going on there.” The 5th Fleet controls the most important Strait of Hormuz, the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf, through which 20% of all oil is transported. Its control zone also extends into the Red Sea near the Suez Canal and the Bab al-Mandab Strait near Yemen.
The systems used by the new Working Group 59 of the Fifth Fleet will include some of the systems that participated in the April tests carried out by the Pacific Navy. Drones used in these exercises included heavy drones for aerial surveillance, surface ships Sea Hawk and Sea Hunter, and smaller underwater drones that resemble torpedoes.
The fifth fleet includes shallow bodies of water, salt water, and summer temperatures that can rise above 45 degrees Celsius in high humidity. This can be difficult for manned vessels.
According to Arab News, the UN Atomic Energy Observatory said Iran was continuing to increase its reserves of highly enriched uranium, which can be used to make nuclear weapons, in violation of a 2015 agreement with world powers to discourage Tehran's nuclear program. In its confidential quarterly report, the International Atomic Energy Agency also told member states that its verification and monitoring activities have been “seriously disrupted” since February due to Iran's refusal to allow inspectors access to IAEA monitoring facilities.
The IAEA said certain uranium enrichment monitoring and observation facilities in Iran were out of order. This month, the agency was granted access to four cameras installed in one place, but one of them was destroyed and the other was severely damaged.
CEO Rafael Mariano Grossi said he was ready to travel to Iran to meet with the newly elected government to discuss the matter.
The agency stated that it estimates uranium reserves enriched to 60% fission purity per 10 kg, which is up to 7.6 kg from May. While the country's uranium reserves, enriched to 20% fission purity, are currently estimated at 84.3 kg.
According to the agency, total uranium reserves in Iran as of 30 August are estimated at 2441.3 kg compared to 3241 kg on 22 May.