Tehran, Iran - In a military exhibition attended by the country's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran has showcased an enhanced version of its hypersonic missile, along with upgraded defense systems. The unveiling took place at a university operated by the aerospace division of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in Tehran.

The centerpiece of the exhibition was the Fattah II hypersonic missile, an advanced version of the previously revealed missile. This new iteration of the missile boasts improved capabilities and maneuverability. The Fattah II is a hypersonic glide vehicle (HGV), which means it glides to its target after being launched, providing enhanced maneuverability compared to traditional ballistic warheads. Iran, joining a select group of countries including China and Russia, now possesses weapons capable of traveling long distances at high speeds.

Although specific details about its upgrades were not provided during the event, Iran had previously disclosed that the Fattah II missile can reach a speed of Mach 15 (5.1 km or 3.2 miles per second) with a range of 1,400km (870 miles). Furthermore, Iranian officials had previously stated their intention to enhance the missile's range to 2,000km (1,242 miles), enabling coverage of Iran's archenemy, Israel.

Alongside the Fattah II missile, the exhibition also showcased other advanced military technologies. These included an upgraded version of the 9-Dey missile defense system, capable of launching short to medium-range projectiles, and a new missile defense system called Mehran, which employs solid-fuel missiles. In addition, the Shahed series of unmanned aerial vehicles, an integral part of Iran's military operations, was displayed in its latest version.

During his visit, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei reiterated his condemnation of Israel and its Western allies, blaming them for the ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip. The supreme leader described the Zionist regime as a symbol of racism and accused Western leaders of endorsing this ideology through their support for Israel's military actions. Khamenei argued that the recent attacks on hospitals in Gaza were reflective of Israeli leaders' frustration over their failure to defeat Palestinian fighters.

The military exhibition comes at a time of heightened tensions in the region as the United States has deployed significant military assets, including two carrier strike groups and a nuclear submarine. Meanwhile, in solidarity with Hamas fighters, Iran-backed groups like Lebanon's Hezbollah and Yemen's Houthis have engaged in cross-border fighting with Israel in the framework of the "resistance axis."

In a related event, Israel announced that the Houthis seized a British-owned and Japanese-operated cargo ship in the southern Red Sea, describing it as an "Iranian act of terrorism."

The unveiling of the upgraded hypersonic missile and advanced defense systems by Iran underscores the country's continued military advancements and its determination to strengthen its capabilities in the face of regional tensions.